Nursing opens urban health center

West Philadelphia residents joined School of Nursing professors and staff Tuesday to celebrate a new partnership for a healthier community. More than 100 people gathered to commemorate the opening of the Center for Urban Health Research. The newest of the University's six centers for Nursing research will be "responsive to the needs of the community," said Nursing School spokesperson Susan Greenbaum. "The purpose is to link urban communities with academia," Greenbaum added. Nursing Professor Loretta Sweet Jemmott, director of the Center, said she will focus on "empowering the community by involving them as partners in research so that we can learn together about the ways we can save lives." The Center will offer education and advice to the entire Philadelphia community. Residents can come to the Center and meet with researchers, clinicians and service providers to discuss health problems and develop solutions. Jemmott noted that the Center will address issues impacting urban families. The Center will also deal with more serious problems including hypertension, homicide, AIDS, cancer and other leading causes of death for Philadelphia's urban population. The Center will be comprehensive and innovative, in that it will implement already-successful programs while also creating new solutions. O'Sullivan, a Nursing professor, discussed Keeping Teens Healthy in Transition, a program for teenage mothers she will continue organizing through the Center. The average high school drop-out rate among teenage mothers is 50 percent, she said. "With our project, 68 percent stayed in school," she said. Executive Director of the Philadelphia Housing Authority John White has also worked with Jemmott in a program to educate mothers and sons about the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases -- a project the Center will continue. After "wholesome dialogue," White said participants lost the "fear of talking about issues of sensitivity." Targeting a wide range of urban problems, the Center will create a "new beginning in the city of Philadelphia," Rose Evans of the Philadelphia Empowerment Zone said. Nursing students have voiced strong support for the Center. Nursing senior Laurie Pugliese, one of Jemmott's students, called the Center's aims on target. "Education and prevention are important in fighting an epidemic like this," Pugliese said, referring to AIDS awareness. The Center's establishment will also provide a wide range of opportunities for University students concerned with urban health care research. Options include observing, acting as research assistants, doing work study and teaching. Nursing School Dean Norma Lang, who recruited Jemmott, noted that "the school is always open to students." "The Center epitomizes? excellence," Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs Carol Scheman said."Penn Nursing is a world leader in community based research and service."