To: Dr. Chris Cochran

From: Ather Ahmed

Date: September 17,2004

Re: Visitors to Class 9/10/2004

 

The purpose of this memo is to inform you of the visitors, their organization, and my view towards the organizations as a possible place to consider my practicum. There were a total of five speakers, and the visitors are arranged in order they were presented.

 

SNAHEC, which stands for Southern Nevada Area Health Education Center, is a private, non-profit organization. Mary W. Rosenthal, MPH leads the organization into various programs which helps educate the society as a whole about health related issues. This organization has been operating since 1990. Major source of income for the organization is through various government grants and donations. It was really difficult to determine if the organization had any weakness other then funding issues, other then funding the organization is pretty well organized. I personally don't feel that this is the organization I would like to work for, because it’s a small organization, and I feel that it will not provide the challenges I am seeking in a work environment.

 

West Care, non profit corporation is a mental heath institution. Joann Lujan is the head of the Triage Unit at West Care. The organization is designed to take care of mentally ill individuals, along with helping out the society in general in this particular field. West Care has been in business for over 30 years in Southern Nevada. Major source of income for this organization is also grants. The weakness I see with West Care is further funding, depending on who comes into office and how expenses will be managed at the federal level. Strengths I have notice with the organization includes the additional location which recently opened up. As far as my approach for a possible chance with a practicum program is highly unlikely.

 

 American Cancer Society, one of the largest non profit organizations in this nation. The speaker, Victor H. provided insights and incentives working with the American Cancer Society. The organization is highly devoted to helping out those battling cancer. The programs offered by the cancer society helps  those struggling with the disease with positive motivations, along with nutrients and other products which can be costly, provided free of charge. The American Cancer Society has been in existence since 1913, yet been in Las Vegas for over 10 years. The American Cancer Society is considered to be one of the strongest with grants, donations, and active volunteers out of all the organizations that have been presented thus far. Although, I wouldn't consider this as a potential practicum site, I think this would be a great organization to do volunteer work.

 

NTPC , stands for the Nevada Tobacco Prevention Coalition. Cindy Roragen is the executive director for this non profit organization. This organization is at its early stages with just over a year in existence. This organization is aimed at eradicating smoking in public places to advocate a healthier environment for society as a whole. NTPC works in conjunction with the American Cancer Society. With backing of such a powerful organization, the NTPC's goals are very promising, and wouldn’t be a bad place to consider joining if I had to choose a non profit organization to work with, for this organization is new compared to all the others, and need volunteers to assist in making the NTPC's goal become reality. However, I do not plan on doing my practicum with NTPC either.

 

UMC, Maxine Hironaka, a graduate from the Health Care Administration program was here to present the Family Resource Center. This program is geared towards helping new parents become good parents. A variety of programs are available from UMC. UMC is a state owned, for profit organization, helping many without health care insurance with the best possible care. UMC over a period of time created many programs, and still look for new ideas to help out our society as a whole. Aside from the Family Resource Center, while I was taking HCA 203, a spokeswoman from UMC discussed their cultural diversity program which I became seriously interested in. I feel that with new ideas like the cultural diversity, and family resource programs, that UMC is an ideal place to work with new innovative, educating programs which will help me become more educated about society in general, while making use of my degree. I feel that if I was to choose a practicum site I am very serious about, I would like to consider UMC. I feel this way because of their programs, stability, and plans for the future they have for Southern Nevada.

 

In conclusion, I would like to compliment the presenters for their time, and information they have provided to the class in general. I feel that those working in non profit organizations have a much different view then those working for profit organizations. The non profit organizations sounds great for those who are really interested in helping the community by helping out in awareness programs and such. In my personal opinion, non profit organizations are great, yet not a organization I plan on working in a long while.