Five Russian professionals spent the past week learning about Vincennes and southern Indiana as part of the Open World Program sponsored by the Library
of Congress and administered by Rotary International. The delegation included three doctors, a hospital administrator, and a facilitator who is a Professor of
English at a Russian University.
The delegates stayed in home of Vincennes Rotary members during their eight-day visit.
David “Chooch” Salmond, President of the Rotary Club commented, “This group was a very professional representation from the medical profession in
Russia. They learned a lot from us, and shared many of their experiences with us.”
Local coordinators were Don Nesbitt and Jim Gislason. The translator was Larissa Clinton, also of Vincennes.
The facilitator for the delegation, Nadezhda Shablicova, is a Professor of English at Karelian State Pedagogical University in Petrozavodsk, Russia. This is her
tenth trip to the United States. Her comments were, “this was one of the best organized programs I have seen. The Vincennes Rotary members went out of
their way to make us happy and to allow the delegates to see as much as they wanted.” “Vincennes is a wonderful city and has a great hospital and medical
staff, as we learned.”
The delegates from Russia were:
Dimitriy Breyev, 41, Chief Regional Surgeon at Birobidzhan City Hospital
Sergey Merzlyakov, 34, Deputy Chief of Staff for Clinic Development, City Hospital 33
Igor Shevchenko, 41, Anesthesiologist – Head of Emergency Services, Ulyanovsk Regional Hospital
Dzhamila Shoikiyemova, 43, Cardiologist – City Clinical Hospital #67, Moscow
A welcome reception was held on Sunday afternoon at the Bettye J McCormick, YMCA Senior Center. Entertainment included a “shootout” demonstration by
local “cowboys” who were posing as bank robbers. The “good guys” won the shootout.
The Russians were especially interested in medical practice in the USA and spent many hours asking questions. Mike Ross, CEO of Medical Center of
Vincennes, gave them a guided tour and explained how doctors work at both the hospital and at their offices seeing patients. Of particular interest was how
insurance works and how doctors get paid, as in Russia the medical system is moving from a government pays all to a private pay system.
The delegates had the opportunity to meet and talk with a number of the doctors at the Medical Center of Vincennes, and were very impressed with how many
patients are seen each day.
Mead- Johnson was another destination, this being in Evansville, where the Russians learned about the manufacture of baby formula as they toured the
Mead-Johnson manufacturing plant. They also toured part of the Bristol-Myers pharmaceutical manufacturing plant. The automated processing and extensive
laboratory testing fascinated the Russians.
A highlight of the visit was the time spent at Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes. CEO Matt Bailey welcomed the group and explained how the hospital met
the medical needs of the regional area surrounding Vincennes. The doctors were able to meet and observe their American counterparts as they performed
their specialties, and were very impressed with the modern technology available to the doctors and hospitals. They noted that the have much of the same
equipment in Russia, but it is often hard to get in small cities, and is equally very expensive to purchase.
The delegates toured the hospital and learned about the new same-day surgery suites, the Breast Center, and the upcoming Cancer Center, currently being
constructed.
Following their half-day at Good Samaritan Hospital, the Russian delegates attended the weekly Rotary meeting at Carolina Cherry restaurant, where they
introduced themselves, thanked the Rotarians for sponsoring the Open World Program, and received gifts from the Rotary Club. Rotary International has been
expanding in Russia since 1995, with local clubs in most major cities today.
Following a tour of the YMCA, the delegates got to see their first Wal-Mart Superstore and begin shopping for gifts to take home. The size and selection of
merchandise was very interesting as one only finds this in Moscow, they said. The delegates were also impressed with the number and variety of restaurants
and entertainment options available in Vincennes, saying that in a city of this size in Russia they might be two restaurants, and very little entertainment,
perhaps a one screen movie theater.
That evening, a reception hosted by Vincennes University President, Dr Richard Helton and his wife at Vincennes University gave the delegates a chance to
relax and also to meet Russian students who are attending V.U. this fall. There will be more opportunities to visit students and programs of Vincennes
University later in the week.
Leaving at 6:00am,the next day, the delegates next went to Indianapolis to tour the State Capitol and after lunch were treated to a tour of Riley Hospital for
Children, where they were very warmly greeted by the Director of Pediatric Surgery, Dr. Fred Rescopela, MD.
The group toured the library and family resource center, heart center, and emergency department including the neo-natal transport unit.
In addition to meeting and visiting with many of the doctors at Riley, they also met two fellow countrymen, both fourth-year medical students, from Russia, who
are studying at the IU School of Medicine.
Upon returning from Indianapolis, the delegates took part in observing the American tradition of Halloween and the costumed children who were trick and
treating. Halloween is not observed in Russia, they said, but the children dress up in costumes and go door to door on New Years Eve.
Mental Health and the treatment and care thereof were the subject of a session with John Manning and staff at the Samaritan Center. The delegates shared
that they have no comparable system of treatment and care for mental health problems in Russia. They were very interested in the treatment of drug and
alcohol addiction, as well as adolescent problems. They noted that schools do not work with mental health practitioners as the do here.
Another interesting meeting was with Dr Terry Fenwick, Quest Orthopedics, where the Russian doctors learned more about surgical practice and follow up
treatment as practiced in the United States. Dr Fenwick explained that he performs surgery at the hospital and sees patients at his office. The average
workweek in both countries is about 60 hours, and both also teach classes at their area universities.
Rehabilitation after surgery was explained by Mark Goodman at Pro-Rehab, which is located in the same building as Dr. Fenwick, but is a separate company.
There is nothing comparable in Russia, but some rehab is done in their hospital settings, resulting in longer hospital stays, generally.
Basketball was on the agenda for lunch, as the delegates attended the kickoff luncheon for the Vincennes University men & women’s basketball teams at
Green Auditorium. Again, student athletes from Eastern Europe attending VU introduced themselves and spent time answering questions of the delegates.
The balance of the day was for shopping in Evansville.
Upon their return to Vincennes an Italian dinner was held at the home of John and Cindy Mineo in honor of the delegates. Also included were host families
and the volunteer translators who were very important to the program’s success.
Vincennes Mayor, Terry Mooney, hosted a breakfast for the delegates at a local diner, followed by a tour of City Hall and the USS Vincennes Museum. During
the tour, Mayor Mooney issued proclamations declaring the delegates to be Honorary Citizens of the City of Vincennes, presented City pins and memorabilia.
The delegates posed as members of the City Council, with the Mayor, in the Council Chambers.
Following the City Hall experience, Mayor Mooney took the delegates to the headquarters of the Vincennes Fire Department, where the delegates got to sit in
one of the fire trucks, and then rode to the top of the 110 foot extension of the aerial ladder truck.
This was said to be the ”High Point” of the trip.
Following lunch, the delegates toured the Vincennes University school of Nursing and related medical fields and learned about the hands-on training
students receive to be able to do the necessary jobs in the health care field. The delegates had many questions about the computer simulated mannequins
and their use to enhance the learning experience.
Following the nursing school visit, the Russian students attending VU escorted the delegates on a tour of the VU campus. The tour ended at the Advanced
Technology Center where the delegates were shown how the students learn to operate the highly technical machinery and robotics.
A banquet was held on Friday night at Carolina Cherry Restaurant, attended by the delegates and host families and others who had assisted and been part of
the Open World Program this week. There were many speeches and toasts and good feelings for everyone. The delegates expressed their heartfelt thanks
for everything they had experienced, and presented special gifts to the Coordinators, Don Nesbitt and Jim Gislason.
The delegates were also thanked for their contribution to the success of the program and asked to return to Vincennes whenever the opportunity arises. Gifts
of two watercolor prints by local watercolor artist, Jerry Baum, and an afghan, depicting the historical scenes of Vincennes were presented to each of the
Russians. Also, a flag set of an American and Russian flag was also given to each of the visitors to help remind them of their time in Vincennes, Indiana.
Saturday was “fun” day as the delegates assembled later in the morning and then visited the “Muster on the Wabash” a local re-enactment of events during
the War of 1812 that occurred in the Vincennes area. Re-enactors in period costumes made it a wonderful event for our guests.
Following the “Muster” the final day of shopping was at hand. Each delegate needed to purchase an additional suitcase, to carry the many purchases home to
his or her families. Local merchants, such as Kohl’s, Wal-Mart, J.C. Penny Co., and Rural King were favorites. Then it was home to pack the suitcases, weigh
them to make sure they were less than 50 pounds each, and relax with the host families for one last evening. It was the beginning of the end of a wonderful
weeklong experience.
Sunday morning came too soon, and at 7:30am the group assembled at the Executive Inn for the trip to the airport and the first of four flights to take the group
back to Moscow. We received calls along the way, and about 23 hours after they departed, they arrived in Moscow, safe and sound.
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