Printer-Friendly Page

Oklahoma City's Nursing Times (Oklahoma City, OK)
Posted on September 29, 2003

By   Mike Lee

The Russians are coming and Florece Rowland couldn’t be happier. As the Oklahoma Friendship Force Leadership Program coordinator, the retired Oklahoma City RN is helping bring seven Russian medical professionals who will be spending eight days visiting various healthcare institutions in the central Oklahoma area.

During their visit, the medical professionals will be gathering information on HIV/AIDS and other health care issues. The group will be observing the American health care system by joining in their U.S. counterpart’s daily work environments, community and cultural activities and home lives.

Rowland said the visit is funded by a Library of Congress grant to bring Russian people to the United States. The program has been so successful, each year the funds have been reauthorized.

The group will arrive on Friday, Oct. 3, and depart Oklahoma City on Oct. 10.

The group will visit the following locations: OU Health Science Center, Oct. 6; Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, morning, Oct. 7; Mercy Hospital, afternoon, Oct. 7; McBride Bone and Joint Hospital, morning, Oct. 8; Oklahoma County Medical Society, afternoon, Oct. 8; Oklahoma City-County Health Department, morning and afternoon, Oct. 9; Celebrate Diversity, Oklahoma City Univ., evening, Oct. 9; Hospice of Oklahoma County, An affiliate of Integris-Health, morning and afternoon, Oct. 10.

"The medical professionals have been awesome," Rowland said. "They have responded to me in such a wonderful way. I’m just so proud of Oklahoma and what they’ve done for us."

Rowland said a social for all Russian people in the community and for local doctors participating in this program will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 5 at the World Neighbors building, 4127 NW 122nd in Oklahoma City.

Friendship Force International is a leading nonprofit international cultural exchange organization headquartered in Atlanta, founded in 1977 with a single mission: to create an environment in which personal friendships are established across the barriers that separate people.

A 1992 nominee for The Nobel Peace Prize, it is active in 125 American communities and more than 55 countries, promoting friendship and goodwill through an extensive program of homestay exchanges and an expanding range of related programs. Specializing in short term group homestay programs, Friendship Force International is distinctive, in that it can not only draw on its extensive experience operating similar programs around the world, but it also can utilize volunteers who have had previous experience working with Russians.

Rowland said the opportunities the event presents are exciting.

"Sometimes I get really emotional about it," said Rowland, who retired from Putnam City Schools after 13 years as a school nurse. "I see it as a good opportunity for an exchange in our medical field. Their focus is AIDS. I would like to know very much about what their problems are and how they solve them.

"Until they get here I’m really not sure what to expect out of them."

Two translators will be on hand.

"I think everyone here is real excited about them coming," Rowland said.

A Friendship Force Ambassador lives in a host’s home, taking part in family and community life. Ambassador and host might not speak the same language nor share similar backgrounds. "Faces, not places" describes The Friendship Force mission. The private, nonprofit organization is not a travel club. Sightseeing activities are included in many exchanges. yet the primary goal is always mutual understanding and friendship.

Seven Russian healthcare professionals and two facilitators will be touring healthcare facilities in the central Oklahoma area. These professionals have extensive experience in the medical field, including physicians, hospital administration, and medical research. All of these professionals have been in the medical field for many years. Many in the group are active in organizations like Doctors for Freedom, A Healthy Russia Movement, and Society for Disabled Veterans of Armed Conflict.

The medical professionals are delegates of the Open World Leadership Center. Open World has hosted 6,263 Russian visitors in the United States since 1999; more than 40 percent of the delegates have been women. The average age of Open World delegates is 39. The 2002 program welcomed 2,531 participants to the U.S. on programs concerning eight themes: economic development. education reform, environment, federalism, health, rule of law, women as leaders, and youth issues.

Open World links the Russian Parliament and the U.S. Congress. Participants come from all of the Russian Federation’s 89 political regions and represent 55 ethnic groups.

Locally, the Friendship Force of Oklahoma doesn’t receive much media attention but plays a vital role in bringing visitors in from other countries.

For more information about the visit or the Friendship Force of Oklahoma contact Joyce Rulon at 733-1191 or Rowland at 946-4321.

[Reprinted with Permission]

All Press Articles