IUPUI PROFESSOR TO TRAVEL TO EGYPT TO HELP IMPROVE
HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN

INDIANAPOLIS - IU School of Nursing at IUPUI Associate Professor Beth Richardson will lead a group of pediatric nurse practitioners from all over the U.S. to Egypt next week to offer help in improving the nation's health care for children. The group is traveling at the request of Mrs. Mubarak, wife of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

From October 11-22, the group, initiated by Professional Exchange Programs in Spokane, Wash., will travel to cities throughout Egypt including Cairo and Luxor to visit hospitals, orphanages, schools and health organizations. The group will talk with physicians and nurses about issues facing their facilities such as staffing, family visitation, salaries, advanced education and more. They will also visit a nursing school in Alexandria that is interested in implementing a pediatric nurse practitioner program.

Professional Exchange Programs selected Richardson to lead the group because of her knowledge and leadership in the field of pediatrics. Richardson is the past president of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and served for six years as the national legislative chair for the organization. Last summer, Richardson headed a similar trip to China.

"I hope that the members of the group return with a greater understanding of the people of Egypt and that we have contributed to the health care of their children," said Richardson.

Professional Exchange Programs is a travel development organization providing international travel planning services to individuals, organizations and special interest groups in the United States and throughout the world.