Fitzpatrick College of Nursing Joins Together for West Philadelphia to Support Vaccinations by Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium

The Fitzpatrick College of Nursing (FCN) is proud to be an enthusiatic partner in  contributing $5000 in February to the Together for West Philadelphia (TfWP) collective contribution to the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium. Villanova University also contributed $5000. 

TfWP is a nonprofit collaborative of hospitals, community organizations, universities, and social service agencies working together to maximize impact on health equity in West Philadelphia. In partnership with Congressman Dwight Evans, TfWP released a video during his State of the District address on February 25. The video acknowledges COVID vaccine hesitancy in West Philadelphia’s communities of color and encourages people to engage in getting information and making their own informed decisions. Featured in the video are recognized leaders from local faith-based organizations and businesses, as well as experts from Penn Medicine, Drexel University, and Lankenau Medical Center of Main Line Health. 

The institutional partners of TfWP have announced their collective donation of $72,000 in support of the consortium’s work to provide barrier-free testing and vaccination alternatives in the areas hardest hit by the coronavirus disease. In addition to FCN and Villanova, contributing institutions include Main Line Health, Penn Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Drexel University, Saint Joseph's University, University of the Sciences, Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic (Mercy Catholic Medical Center), and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The hospitals and universities that collaborate as part of TfWP are grateful to the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium for addressing this disparity and creating more equitable distribution of the vaccine and are happy to play a part in supporting this effort, together. 

FCN is represented on the TfWP committee by Ruth McDermott-Levy, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN, associate professor  and co-director of PEHSU, Region 3/ MidAtlantic Center for Children's Health and the Environment (MACCHE).