January 19, 2006

Dear Member of the Institute of Medicine:

In 2005, members of the Institute of Medicine and many other friends generously supported fellow IOM member, Dr. Regina Benjamin, as she rebuilt her Bayou Rural Health Clinic in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina.  The IOM Council chose to commit every dollar of unrestricted gifts to the IOM through the end of 2005 to help with the restoration.

I am extremely grateful for the many heartfelt responses to the needs of the Bayou Clinic and its patients.  Your readiness to help was an inspiration.  We raised more than $200,000 for the Clinic, including $7,200 from an IOM staff fundraiser.

I wish I could report that the Bayou Clinic is fully functional, as we hoped it would be this month. Unfortunately, in a devastating turn of fate just as the Clinic was prepared to reopen on January 1, 2006, a fire destroyed the newly rebuilt structure and all its contents.

In an interview on National Public Radio, Dr. Benjamin said that everything was lost, including many newly recreated patient records.  However, she has drawn comfort from her patients and is determined to rebuild again, one step at a time.  I know she will continue to draw strength and encouragement from the support you have provided as she confronts this new challenge.  Thank you, again, for your generosity.

Sincerely,

Harvey V. Fineberg, M.D., Ph.D.

P.S.      Dr. Benjamin is now in a position to accept gifts at her 501c3 organization (Tax ID #61-1270951):  Attn Dr. Regina Benjamin, Bayouclinic, Inc., 13833 Tapia Lane, Bayou La Batre, AL  36509.