Letters to the Editor - May 2004

Dear Editor:
I am so pleased to see the progress of the magazine. Congratulations on the magazine’s recent award from the New York Association of Black Journalists, which I read of in the Photo Review section of the February 2004 issue. As one baby boomer facing Medicare age like yourself, I also applaud your editorial, “The Care of Our Health.” It is a warning to all of us to pay close attention to our health. The Final Word by Ms. McKinney on the role of our community’s tree shakers is also very enlightening. Keep up the good work, stay strong and God bless.

Victor Odesanya, president
OBE Computer Services Inc.
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Dear Editor:
I serve as director of external affairs at Helene Fuld College of Nursing at North General Hospital in Harlem. I recently received my February 2004 issue of The Network Journal and enjoyed reading the article written by Ms. Carmen Brown entitled WANTED: Nurses. I enjoyed the article so much that I would like to invite Ms. Brown to be the keynote speaker at the college’s upcoming alumni reunion on June 14, 2004. Helene Fuld College of Nursing (HFCN) prepares licensed practical nurses (LPNs) to successfully upgrade their credentials to associate degree registered nurses (RN) status via a one-year accelerated course of study. HFCN graduates more than 200 new RNs each year who go on to pursue nursing careers with hospitals in the New York City metropolitan area. While we boast 3,000 alumni, few have gone on to executive-level careers in health-care management, but they all have the potential to do so. I think Ms. Brown would be just the speaker to deliver this message (of infinite career possibilities) to Helene Fuld’s hard-working alumni, 96 percent of whom are minority (Black) and 90 percent of whom are female.

Jessica Ingram-Bellamy,
Director of External Affairs
Helene Fuld College of Nursing
North General Hospital, New York