Nicholas Copernicus FundProvide medical equipment for the Collegium Medicum of the Jagiellonian University (CMJU) in Krakow, Poland
by Gene Harubin Zygmont
The Nicholas Copernicus Fund (NCF) is a non-profit, voluntary, humanitarian organization, whose purpose is to provide medical equipment for the Collegium Medicum of the Jagiellonian University (CMJU) in Krakow, Poland.
It was established as a charitable work of the St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Mission and the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego, in December, 1992, and, in less that two years has been instrumental in providing much needed basic medical equipment: Phase l of a state-of-the-art teaching system for the new Radiology Teaching Library; a computer program which will expand and modernize accounting, pharmacy and patient care computer networks; cardiac monitors with accessories; oximeter units used in surgical and intensive care situations and current medical textbooks and radiology journals.
Other long range, ongoing projects of the NCF are:
* Establishment of a state-of-art radiology teaching library for the study of radiology.
* Renovation of the Department of Surgery.
* Establishment of a Level l cardiac extensive care unit with all equipment necessary for world class cardiac care, including a cardiac care ambulance that would be able to access patients throughout the city.
* Rebuilding and renovating the Department of Radiology including a new building plus additional new equipment.
On March 12, 1994, the NCF became an affiliate organization of the Women's International Center in San Diego under its "Sisters and Brothers" program and will jointly cooperate on a major project for 1994: to provide a Dedicated Mammography unit to the Department of Radiology at the Collegium Medicum.
To meet these goals, the NCF is expanding fund raising efforts from its Southern California base to Polish American communities in and around the Chicago and Detroit areas. Eventually NCF hopes to encompass the whole of the United States.
Denis K. Bielecki, M.D., Fund Administrator is joined by other Board of Directors members: Gregory F. Bishop, M.D.; C. Patrick Callahan, Esq.; Harriet Carr; Ellen Fowler; Anita Hirsch; C.J. Paderewski; and Andrzej Urbanik, M.D. Fund Administrator, CMUJ, to carry out this humanitarian program. Barbara Piasecka Johnson also provides valuable services as honorary chairperson of the board.
From: Polish Americans in California, vol. II. National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs & Polish American Historical Association. California 1995.