Nine Healthcare Professionals Visit Jefferson As Part of 3-Year $2 Million
Partnership With Romania
Thomas Jefferson University was pleased to welcome nine healthcare
professionals from Cluj-Napoca, Romania, on our campus December 10 to 17.
This visit was part of a three-year, $2 million healthcare partnership which
focuses on environmental and occupational health issues in Cluj-Napoca,
Romania.
The partnership is funded by the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) and administered through the American International
Health Alliance (AIHA). TJU's partner institutions in Cluj are: The Medical
Center for Health Services and Management; The Inspectorate of Public Health;
and the Clinic for Occupational Diseases.
In October, representatives of the partnership and the Minister of Health
of Romania signed a memorandum of understanding in Bucharest, Romania. Signing
on behalf of Jefferson was Jussi J. Saukkonen, MD, dean, College of Graduate
Studies and vice president for science policy, technology development and
international affairs. Accompanying Dr. Saukkonen to the signing was Lance
Simpson, PhD, director, Jefferson Center for Occupational Medicine, and
Debra A. Loggia, manager, international projects.
The visitors to Jefferson from Romania included:
- from the Ministry of Health: Dr. Mircea Beuran, deputy director for
the Ministry of Health of Romania; Dr. Silvia Albu, Ministry of Health representative
in Cluj;
- from the Medical Center for Health Services and Management: Dr. Eugen
Gurzau, director; Dr. Didi Surcel, chief, occupational health department;
Dr. Ovidiu Perseca, researcher for occupational health; and Mihaela Sinca,
librarian;
- from the Clinic for Occupational Diseases: Dr. Aristotel Cocarla, director;
Dr. Alina Todoran, physician in occupational medicine;
- from the Inspectorate for Public Health: Dr. Doina Andrasoni, director.
The purpose of this visit was to introduce Jefferson's partners to the full
scope of the University's capabilities and to develop a workplan outlining
specific goals and objectives for the coming years.
In addition to Dr. Simpson and the department of environmental medicine
and toxicology, other Jefferson participants will include pulmonary medicine,
represented by Sandra B. Weibel, MD, instructor, medicine; academic information
and research services (AISR), directed by Edward Tawyea, University Librarian;
College of Allied Health Sciences, nursing, represented by Maria Zerr, JD;
Robert M. Steiner, MD, professor of radiology and director, diagnostic radiology;
and representatives of other Hospital departments.