MFP Presents at AAMN 33rd Annual Conference
33rd Annual Conference of the American Assembly of Men in Nursing
October 23 – 26, 2008
Le Pavillon Hotel and University Interim Hospital
New Orleans, Louisiana
Attended by Janet Jackson, Program Manager, and MFP Fellows Bruce Kafer, and Robert Pope
Greetings,
Greetings from the Big Easy! The SAMHSA MFP of the ANA had a presence at this year’s AAMN. Rebecca Patton, MSN, RN, CNOR, ANA President, was the keynote speaker and offered historical perspectives as well as pathways to the future for nursing through lobbying for policy changes.
Bruce Kafer’s oral presentation, “Native American Nursing: Leading in a Warrior Tradition” was as informative as it was well received by the membership and attendees of the AAMN 2008 conference. His insights to the Native American Perspective was enlightening and personally provided this fellow, who speaks often of racial residential segregation as a social determinant of poor health outcomes, clarity on the extreme nature of how this is applicable to the Native American. Additionally, Bruce’s well received presentation has led to offers for future presentations at other events.
Janet Jackson’s guidance to Bruce and I at this conference was beneficial and helpful in providing us with leadership and networking skills. Her efforts to disseminate the mission of the MFP as well as recruit potential fellows are untiring and must be applauded.
Luther Christman Awards Dinner
The AAMN was founded in 1974 by Luther Christman, PhD, RN, FAAN and the logo or shield of the organization bears this date and the initials LC to acknowledge this fact. I had the opportunity to meet and speak with Dr. Christman briefly in November 2004 at a dinner in his honor hosted by Claire Fagin and the Hartford Foundation. Dr. Christman was interviewed by Dr. Fagin who shared with the audience the many accomplishments of Dr. Christman, such as his early advocacy of diversity in nursing and hospital staffing ratios. At the dinner in 2004, Dr. Christman also offered anecdotally insights into the difficulty he himself and men in general experienced in nursing. Dr. Christman was unable to attend the 2008 AAMN awards dinner which bears his name due to health concerns according to Past President of the AAMN, Jim Raper.
Positives and Negatives of the AAMN as a Nursing Body
The long-term (founded 1974) organization’s mission is to focus on Men’s Health and factors affecting men in nursing and they have been largely successful as indicated by their longevity as an organization and increasing numbers in attendance at the annual meeting; 102 attendees this year. However, there is a glaring lack of diversity in this organization, which is acknowledged by Board Member, M. Bridget Nettleton in her 2008 SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) Report to AAMN membership. Perhaps there is an opportunity for MFP member Bruce Kafer to make inroads in this arena, as his time and schedule permit.
A Visit to the Holocaust Area post Katrina
Janet, Bruce, and I visited the lower 9th Ward/St. Bernard Parish and were disturbed by the devastation to this community, and in some areas the lack of progress in restoring homes to livable conditions. Conversely, we were encouraged by the site of children on a playground just a few yards away from the levee, which we saw as the resiliency of community dwellers there. I leave NOLA today and Journey to my hometown of Galveston which was recently devastated by Hurricane and floods which I will report on later.
A reflection
Why isn’t there a Dr. Faye Gary Dinner in which we award the outstanding MFP fellow yearly?
All the best,
Robert Pope, RN, MSN, PhDc
SAMHSA MFP Fellow
Photo Gallery