Binghamton University faculty member brings medical care and supplies to Haiti

Binghamton University Assistant Professor and Director of Graduate Nursing Programs Nicole Rouhana traveled to Haiti on a medical mission in February to improve access to healthcare for widows and children.

One of the most poverty-stricken countries in the Caribbean, Haiti receives a large portion of its healthcare from nongovernmental organizations and volunteers. Rouhana, who is a certified nurse midwife and family nurse practitioner, volunteered her services at a Haitian hospital founded by Mother Theresa that cares for orphans and children with various diseases, as well as at a community-based maternal and infant nutrition clinic.

Rouhana brought 25 stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs with her and donated them to rural healthcare clinics and a nursing school. The donation is possible thanks to a partnership the Decker School of Nursing established in 2014 with MDF Instruments, which offers clinical supplies at bulk rates to Decker undergraduate and graduate students. According to this agreement, for every stethoscope purchased by a Decker student, MDF supplies a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff to support the school’s international volunteer work.

“I want to give a huge thank you to MDF for helping the Decker School of Nursing continue to improve healthcare — one student at a time,” said Rouhana.