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PVMS Teacher Spearheads Blood Drive Education Program
 | | Karen Brothers at the Culinary Institute in August of 2006 |
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In mid-August of 2006, Putnam Valley Middle School (PVMS) Principal Edward Hallisey and longtime PVMS 6th grade teacher, Karen Brothers, took a trip to the renowned Culinary Institute of America, in Hyde Park. They were the guests of New York Blood Center (NYBC) and Ms. Brothers was there to take part in a presentation of the Little Doctor program; an educational program that she initiated nearly ten years ago.
The Little Doctor program focuses on community service and volunteerism and the need for volunteer blood donations. The audience was made up of school administrators and Blood Center members, and the program included a video narrated in part by Ms. Brothers. On January 12, the program was repeated in Hyde Park, and Ms. Brothers was honored in absentia for her work.
Ms. Brothers, who has run numerous community blood drives in Putnam Valley over the years in conjunction with NYBC, created the Little Doctor program in order to share her enthusiasm and expertise for school-centered blood drives with others. The Sixth Grade Blood Drive has been a PVMS staple for many years.
At PVMS, sixth grade students are always surprisingly enthusiastic, eager to help, and very successful at recruiting donors, especially given the fact that nationwide far too few eligible donors give blood regularly. The students provide publicity, help with recruitment, welcome donors, and offer postdonation snacks and beverages. Ms. Brothers says she believes that involving children at an early age helps them to recognize the importance of donating blood and makes them much more likely to become donors themselves.
Ms. Brothers' influence has paid off. Student-run blood drives are becoming more frequent next door at Putnam Valley High School (PVHS), where last month PVHS senior Tony Rush worked with the National Honor Society to coordinate a blood drive there. The PVHS drive yielded nearly 30 pints of much needed blood.
Asked about the Little Doctor program, Principal Hallisey said, "Karen's creation and commitment to the Little Doctor program has educated our entire community on the need for blood donations. I am proud that so many of our middle school students have had the opportunity to learn from and participate in the program. PVMS has created a model that is now being replicated by middle schools across the country."
Andrea H. Cefarelli, Manager of Market Development & Recruitment for the New York Blood Center, added, "Our Little Doctor Program was an amazing idea from a very creative and dedicated teacher that has blossomed into one of our most important programs. With fewer than 2% of the New York population being willing to donate blood, exposing our children to community responsibility and the need for blood is critically important. To this day, Karen's Little Doctor drive is one of the best in the area."
The next PVMS Sixth Grade Blood Drive is scheduled for March 27, 2007. Watch for more details.
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