Regarding: Friends of the ‘Nick Simons Institute’ Project
Dear Friends,
With this short letter I want to bring you up to date on the progress of a project that has now, rather unexpectedly, come beside Patan Hospital and a number of other mission hospitals in Nepal. Some of you who receive this letter will not have heard of this, and this letter will be an introduction; some will have heard a bit; and others of you have been intimately related as consultants and supporters – for you in the latter group, this is also a congratulations and a thank you.
Briefly, this starts in 2003 with the tragic death of Jim and Marilyn Simons’ son Nick. The Simons family came to Nepal some months later to fund a memorial project here, someone led them to Patan Hospital, and the Simons promised to fund our new 150-bed Maternity Ward project. With that building project getting underway, in September 2004, the Simons again contacted Patan Hospital leadership and expressed (1) their interest in funding a larger project that would reach the underserved through health care education, and (2) their confidence in Patan Hospital’s playing a major role in such a venture. They challenged us to come up with a proposal.
During the last 3 months of 2004, a Task Force composed of 10 people from Patan Hospital, outlying mission hospitals, community health projects, and others developed a proposal for the Nick Simons Institute of Rural Health Care Training. The bare bones of NSI’s future direction are found on the attached page. Jim and Marilyn Simons have now communicated their acceptance of the project, and have asked us to move ahead with the next phase of programming. The first priority in that regard is forming an independent legal identity for NSI and putting together its Board. We see great potential for this project to not only impact health care in rural areas, but to provide support at a critical time for mission and other hospitals of a similar ethos.
As you can imagine, we are both excited about this wonderful opportunity and filled with some trepidation about how best to take it on. Though our Task Force is a fine, multi-talented group, we have gaps; also, not all of us will stay around to work on the NSI project. So, this letter is the first in a long recruitment drive. Attached here is a brief synopsis. For those of you who want to go further, we can send the full NSI concept paper for your perusal (and suggestions). We would welcome dialogue by email. We hope that some of this would eventually lead to more members joining our team. Feel free to share these documents with others.
Thank you for your prayers for this new venture.
Faithfully yours,
Mark Zimmerman, MD
For the NSI Task Force: Dr. Ted MacKinney (Convenor), Dr. Maureen Dariang, Dr. Bruce Hayes, Mr. Habel Khawas, Dr. Hom Neupane, Dr. Simon Park, Mr. Muni Shakya, Mr. Krishna Man Shakya, Ms. Christine Stone.
Nick Simons Institute
of Rural Health Care Training
What is NSI? Nick Simons Institute (NSI) is a network of hospital and community projects that share a common vision for improving health care in the rural areas of Nepal. Initially this network will include Patan Hospital, Tansen Mission Hospital, Okhaldhunga Hospital, Lamjung Hospital, Rukum Living River Hospital, and Dandeldhura TEAM Hospital – along with several other hospitals still to be negotiated, and their associated community projects. The Institute itself will be in Kathmandu and will provide coordination and support to the network. This venture builds on the successful training experience that Patan and Tansen Hospitals have had over the last 5 years in Midwife Refresher, Anesthesia Assistant, Operating Theater Management, and MDGP.
Who is Nick Simons? Nick was a 23-year old American college graduate when he came to Nepal and worked for an NGO from 2002-3. During this time his love for Nepal grew and he told he parents about the country. In May 2003 while swimming in Bali, Nick drowned. His parents, Jim and Marilyn Simons have asked Patan Hospital leadership to develop a proposal in Nick’s memory that would have significant and sustained impact on health care in Nepal. The Simons Foundation would provide the initial 5 years of funding for NSI, with build up of an endowment fund.
What will NSI do?
1. Train health care workers for rural Nepal
Based on the needs of and negotiations with the Nepal government and its partners.
Focused on mid-level staffing (e.g. nurse midwife, technicians, health assistants), post-graduate short courses, and MDGP (family practice) doctors.
Training done in central and rural sites.
Beyond skill-based to holistic care.
2. Support and develop the health care facilities in the training network
Infrastructure development
Communication links
Schooling for staff children
3. Develop health care leaders
Scholarship candidates from rural locations
MDGP and other hospital leaders
In-service scholarships for continuing medical education
Leadership development programs
Presently at what stage of development is NSI? Patan Hospital and associates – in consultation with the Nepal government, INGOs, the outlying hospitals, and a range of consultants – developed the NSI concept proposal in late 2004. The Simons family has now given their approval to the proposal, and will move ahead in a positive way with negotiations. The governance structure of NSI is still being discussed. The project will need more government participation and eventual approval. If all goes according to plan, we will start implementation by early 2006.
What are NSI’s immediate needs?
We are building a programming team, and need assistance in strategic planning, financial planning, and team building. These could include medium-term workers (2-6 mos.)
We are constructing a local Board and need suggestions for excellent Nepali Directors.
We are recruiting longer-term expatriate workers to work beside Nepalis and capacity build. Experience in management, health training, research, or finance is desirable.
We also need well-wishers and people who will pray for the venture!
Thank you.
Mark Zimmerman, MD
patanhospital.wlink.com.np