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Laurie Harrison, Dr. Sunita Dodani, and President Pam
The Program
Laurie Harrison, Rotarian of the Day, introduced Dr. Sunita Dodani, who is the Founding Director of the Healthcare Analytics and Delivery Science Institute at EVMS. But Dr. Dodani has a backstory that is riveting for Rotarians. As a child in Karachi, Pakistan, she contracted polio. That could have been a condition that would have led to limited mobility, limited education, limited opportunities. Dr. Dodani was a minority on three levels: she is a Hindu in a predominantly Muslim country; she was disabled from polio; and she was a woman. But the persistence and perseverance of her parents enabled her to overcome these challenges.
Dr. Dodani’s mother exhorted her to become a cardiologist, as it is one of the most demanding in the medical field. Dr. Dodani did not have time for fun, for entertainment, for frivolous pursuits. She studied diligently and was awarded prestigious fellowships in Canada and the United States. Her most recent position was at the Mayo Clinic, a sure indicator of professional success.
At the University of Pittsburgh where she studied, she met her future husband. He is Indian. The wedding had to be held in Pittsburgh due to the complications of the Indian and Pakistani families. This story is important because when she was a child, Dr. Dodani’s uncle had argued that she would never find anyone to marry her (due to the polio diagnosis).
It was clear that Dr. Dodani’s life was made more challenging due to polio. But it is also clear that it is not the definitive factor. Her family’s support made the difference. To help others, Dr. Dodani and her husband have set up a non-profit foundation to help polio survivors in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. They have identified corrective surgeries and extensive rehabilitation therapies that greatly improve the lives of survivors. They seek to address not only medical needs, but also improving environmental conditions, helping survivors to find appropriate jobs, counseling, etc. The Foundation is called Center for Post Polio Rehabilitation (website: www.cfppr.org).
Dr. Dodani’s story is a powerful witness to why Rotarians have persevered in this commitment. End Polio Now!
The Meeting
Bob Heely and Pam Tubbs joined up to celebrate Fall with “Shine on Harvest Moon” and the ever popular “Four Way Test.” Barry Kesser invoked blessings on our military given their challenges to preserve our freedom. Our School of the Week is Ghent Elementary.
Visitation/Introduction of Visitors
Irv Wells informed us that Joe Massey is back at Harbor’s Edge rehabilitation facility. Ted Baker is in Sentara Leigh (more to follow). And Irv reported on his own encounter with modern medicine: it seems he had a brain aneurysm and doctors inserted a titanium clip to prevent its rupturing. One could hardly believe he had confronted this risk given his jaunty demeanor.
There were no visitors this week.
Club Business
New Member Inductions: Sally Hartman introduced her neighbor, Tom Ambler, who recently retired from Norfolk Southern (as a lawyer). Will King introduced Bill Moore, a retired sales executive and a former Rotarian from both Tucson, AZ, and from a peninsula club (Oyster Point). His wife is the head of the Williams School.
Greg Bockheim updated us on the District Grant “Nature Play” for which we are the lead club with three other clubs participating. Construction will start in November.
Gus Stuhlreyer, Finance Committee Chair, updated us on improvements to our culinary fare. Iced tea pitchers are back on the tables and informative signs are posted on the buffet table. Members are encouraged to fill out the brief surveys left on the tables.
Past District Governor John Padgett presented President Pam with a pin for joining the Paul Harris Society. This represents a commitment to give $1000 every year to the Rotary Foundation. An exemplary decision indeed!
October Birthdays and Anniversaries
Birthdays
On the 1st, Alan Nelson and Jim Sell; on the 7th, Gus Stuhlreyer; on the 8th, Bruce Wilcox; on the 9th, Steve Schultz; on the 11th, John Lynn; on the 15th, Carlisle Wroton; on the 20th, Bill Davis; on the 23rd, Bob Heely; and on the 27th, Skip Burton.
Wedding Anniversaries
Ray & Jamie Moses, 11 years; Tami & Chuck Aloisa and Stephen & Rebecca Jones, 22 years; Jim & Clare Kitz and Ray & Kim Norton, 32 years; Will & Cecelia King, Will, 52 years; Susan & Allan Donn, 54 years.
Date Joined Rotary
Ned Alderman and Kelly Stefanko, 3 years; Sally Hartman, 11 years; Sharon Laderberg, 12 years; Bill Moore, 19 years; Jeff Wells, 38 years.
Happy Bucks & Fines
Sigur Whitaker was happy to report that her latest book will be a featured selection of the Indiana Historical Society’s Holiday Book Fair. Barbara Lipskis revealed that her oldest son, Joe, is engaged. Barbara also revealed that Rick Coradi danced onstage in “Always Patsy Cline.” (Who knew?) Bob Ash kicked in for ODU’s unexpected triumph over Virginia Tech. and President Pam contributed both for her publicity in the Compass but also that her youngest son has secured a position. There were of course the October birthday people to celebrate.
Rotarian Profile
Lorna Cochrane, President Elect, shared with us her memories of growing up in an agricultural environment. President Pam detailed Lorna’s many accomplishments. She has a master’s degree in ed-psych and a PhD in cognitive psychology and has worked as a psychiatric and forensic nurse, an educator, administrator and researcher. Today she has a private consulting firm which specializes in understanding the complex issues of terrorism, radicalization, and violence prevention and helping others to develop prevention strategies.
She received these valuable words of wisdom from her grandfather. “# 1, if you don’t learn your lesson the first time, it will return till you do…and #2, you fly with the crows, you get shot with the crows.”
In the “Three Truths and a Lie”, Lorna revealed:
1. I once sang in a backup chorus with Celine Dion.
2. My ideal day would include sitting on the beach with my family, a friend, a homeless person, and God.
3. I once was a prison director.
4. I once was a demolition derby driver.
Did you guess that the lie was singing with Celine Dion?