HFS Students Attend Event at Embassy;
Meet Celebrated Neuro-Surgeon Dr. Ben Carson
Street, MD February 2, 2008 – Harford Friends School students advanced their hands-on studies of global communities with a trip to a fundraising event at the embassy of Ghana on Saturday, February 2nd. Students, along with other HFS representatives, met with keynote speaker Dr. Ben Carson, celebrated Head of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and His Excellency; Dr. Kwame Bawuah-Edusei as guests of Dr. John Sampson, Neuro-anesthesiologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
The event, hosted by the Embassy of Ghana and sponsored by Doctors for United Medical Missions (DrUMM), celebrated “individuals and organizations that are making a difference in advancing the level of medical care that is available to people living in Africa,” wrote Dr. Sampson, President of DrUMM, on the DrUMM web site. Dr. Carson spoke to the group about overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges by developing in people the tools with which to make a difference in one’s own life and in the lives of others. It is a theme consistent with the aims of the curriculum and philosophy at Harford Friends School.
“Dr. Carson told us never to give up on our dreams, no matter what people say or think about you. I hear this all the time at HFS. Kids and teachers are always saying, ‘You can do it,’” reflected sixth grade student Reagan Fresnel-Hicks.
According to Jim Pickard, HFS English teacher and event attender, the experience embodied the sub-text of his courses. “We study the whole idea of conflict in our literature program at HFS. In particular, we like to include works that show how people can make a difference for themselves, their families, and their communities.”
Dr. Sampson, a resident of Havre de Grace and friend to HFS, invited HFS students to attend to help further their understanding of and appreciation for the challenges faced by fellow members of the global community. In recognizing the HFS contingent at the event, Dr. Sampson reminded the audience that these are students who, someday soon, will be making a positive difference in the world.
The experience clearly had the intended, profound effect on the students from Harford Friends. “This experience opened up a whole new world to our students. Through the efforts of members of the medical profession to make a positive difference in Africa and Dr. Carson’s message that no obstacle is insurmountable, our students witnessed and interacted with people responding to a call to action. They are now awakened to needs and see themselves as part of the solution. That’s a powerful experience!” reflected HFS Head of School Jonathan Huxtable. In fact, two of the students who attended the event initiated a fundraising bake sale at their church and raised funds to support the work of Dr. Sampson’s organization, Doctors for United Medical Missions.
Funds raised through the February 2nd event at the Ghanaian Embassy will be applied to the development of a neuroscience center in Ghana.
