Ethicon: More Than a Collection Drive - Working Together for Health

Written By: Monika Bridgforth - PFP Staff
Location: Norfolk, VA

 

When Michael Dahl, Virginia Beach-based Clinical Sales Representative for Ethicon Inc., hosted his Division meeting in Virginia Beach on June 14-15, he thought of the many local organizations doing great work in the community and around the world. Ethicon, a Johnson & Johnson company, was founded 80 years ago when they pioneered sutures as a way to enhance the work of surgeons and the lives of patients. Today, Ethicon has expanded to focus on many areas of healthcare, including: wound closure; general surgery; biosurgery; women’s health, and aesthetic medicine. For each Division meeting, Ethicon identifies a local non-profit organization to support.  Michael had only recently learned about Physicians for Peace’s work to improve healthcare in areas of scarce resources through medical education missions, and decided to investigate further.

 

Michael and his Division Manager, Michelle Barczak, came to Physicians for Peace headquarters in Norfolk, VA to meet CEO Ron Sconyers and learn about our core programs. Since Michelle was about 6 months pregnant, she immediately wanted to learn more about our Resource Mothers Program to train mentors and provide on-going support for at-risk pregnant adolescents living in the poorest barrios of the Dominican Republic.

 

Michael and Michelle asked each Sales Rep to take part in a materials collection for the program, and on June 15, Physicians for Peace was able to pick up a carload full of new mom kits containing prenatal vitamins, diapers, infant care items, clothing and books as donations to the young moms. These items will be added to our next shipment to the Dominican Republic.

Thank you, Ethicon! Your sales team rocks – and is helping to make sure that infants born in poverty have a chance at a healthy life.

 

How You Can Make a Difference: Our Resource Mothers program is run on a very small budget but has had a very positive impact on the lives of at-risk young moms and their babies. It only costs $250 to provide one at-risk pregnant mom support through the mentor program with weekly home visits from their trained Resource Mothers. 

Did you know? Pre-natal vitamins are cost-prohibitive to most of these pregnant teens, and yet are so important to ensuring the health of both mom and baby, especially when the mom is not getting the foods needed for a nutritious diet. Find out how you can collect more material donations like the collection provide by Ethicon.