Fairfield University School of Nursing Professor Doris T. Lippman, Ed. D. (pictured), who served as an Army nurse during the Vietnam War, has organized an exhibit at the DiMenna-Nyselius Library about the vital role nurses play in caring for the nation's veterans.

Dr. Lippman, of Westport, has included many mementos in the exhibit from her career, including personal items from her military service at a mobile surgical hospital and her work as vice chair of the Vietnam Women's Memorial in Washington D.C.

Some startling statistics shared in the display include the rising number of homeless veterans in Connecticut - approximately 3,000 to 4,000 veterans in the state do not have homes. Of homeless Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in the country, 11% are women - more than twice the rate of homeless women veterans of all generations combined.

The exhibit also includes information about the School of Nursing's partnership with the VA Connecticut Healthcare System. The VA Nursing Academy, a central element of the partnership, is a federal pilot program helping to teach Fairfield nursing students to care for veterans of World War II through the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

The exhibit will be on display at the library through mid-March. Keith Stetson, collection development librarian at Fairfield; Roberta Reynolds, university graphic designer; Shalini Madaras, of "Kick for Nick," and Pam Wertz, of Female Soldier, Forgotten Hero, helped Dr. Lippman put together the exhibit.

Image caption: Fairfield University School of Nursing Professor Doris T. Lippman, Ed. D., an Army veteran, has organized an exhibit at the DiMenna-Nyselius Library about nurses who care for soldiers and veterans.

Posted On: 02-24-2010 10:02 AM

Volume: 42 Number: 208