Wynnewood, PA (August 2005) - Lankenau Hospital's Walter and Leonore Annenberg Conference Center for Medical Education will host a program, Terrorism, Bioterrorism, and Hospital Preparedness: A Commemoration of 9-11, on Sunday, September 11, 2005, beginning at 1:30 p.m. The program will include presentations by Lankenau physicians on how the hospital has prepared for bioterrorism and other emergency situations, along with the opening of Remembrance & Renewal, an art exhibit commemorating 9-11, co-sponsored by the Annenberg Center and the Main Line Art Center.

"The emphasis of the program is to educate the community, while paying tribute to those who perished during the 9-11 tragedy," said Mark Ingerman, M.D., System Division Chief of Infectious Diseases and Preventative Medicine, and moderator of the program. "In addition, we hope to create awareness in the community of the efforts our hospital has made in establishing plans in the event of a terrorist attack."

The program on the afternoon of September11 will include presentations by Ben Usach, M.D., Emergency Medicine, discussing "Terrorism:  The Possible Scenarios";  Dr. Ingerman, on the subject of " Bioterrorism: The ABCs"; and David Grossman, M.D., Chief of Emergency Medicine, speaking on "Hospital Preparedness."

An additional highlight of the program will be a presentation by Chris Reif, a paramedic from Narberth Ambulance, discussing "An EMS Perspective," and attendance by the Lower Merion Township fire and police and their families, who will be recognized for their outstanding service to the community.

The educational program and ceremony will be followed by the opening of Remembrance & Renewal, a juried art exhibition planned in conjunction with the conference, commemorates 9-11. The exhibit opening will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Annenberg Center gallery.

"The Annenberg Center for Medical Education at Lankenau Hospital strives to integrate art and culture with medicine," said Barry Mann, M.D., Executive Director of the Annenberg Center, and Program Director of the Lankenau Surgical Residency Program. "The juxtaposition of Remembrance & Renewal with our medical and scientific discussions of terrorism and bioterrorism will challenge us to explore more deeply the emotional dimensions and human impact of these issues."

The Walter and Leonore Annenberg Conference Center for Medical Education was made possible through a $10 million gift to Lankenau from The Annenberg Foundation. Opened in the fall of 2004, the Center provides programs for the medical education of physicians-in-training and draws scholars regionally and nationally for the continuing education of practicing physicians.

For more information on the September 11 program, please call 610-645-3409.

Published:8-24-2005

Frieda Schmidt

Public Relations

(610) 526-8763

schmidtf@mlhs.org