Bayou La Batre
Alabama Clinic Subject of Interdisciplinary Class
Bayou La Batre
In recent weeks, Bentley students have been seeking "a name, a place and a face" to receive the funds they raised for the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Michael Rich, MD from Bentley Student Health Services introduced our community to Regina M. Benjamin, MD, MBA. Dr. Benjamin runs a rural health clinic in Bayou La Batre, Alabama which was destroyed by the hurricane. The community has approximately 2,500 residents who have lost their homes and their sources of income. Many of the people are shrimpers, fishermen, factory workers and shipbuilders. Bentley’s student leaders and faculty have committed to the rebuilding of this rural health clinic.
New spring course inspired by Hurricane Katrina
This interdisciplinary class focuses on the design, development, and implementation of a series of deliverables for the Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, which was devastated by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Below is a link to a student-produced video showing the series of events that inspired this class. (Some images courtesy of Hurricane Katrina news coverage.)
VIDEO LINK
ID 299 students will work individually and in teams to develop and deliver to the clinic's managers the following:
- Short-term business and financial plans
- New interactive website
- IT system analysis and database implementation for the clinic's medical records
- Other projects as the situation in Alabama evolves
This course requires students to have an advanced skill set and a strong commitment to applying those skills to helping the victims of the hurricane. This is an interdisciplinary Service-Learning course that carries three business credits and an optional fourth credit.
For questions, please contact Shawn Hauserman, Service-Learning Assistant Director, Academics at 781.891.2170 or shauserman@bentley.edu
Check back here for information on new and ongoing relief efforts.
