Moffitt Cancer Center To Host Domestic Violence ProgramTAMPA - Every year women in the United States experience at least 2 million injuries from an intimate partner. Many hide behind fear, keeping their abuse a secret. Thirty-three years ago, Brenda Pate was one of these women. The physician assistant at Moffitt is a domestic violence survivor from her first marriage. She feared her ex-husband and hid the verbal and physical abuse from her family. She believed speaking up would disappoint them and make the violence worse. "You don't talk to people about it because you are ashamed," Pate said. "You reach a point when you are being abused that you think that it is what you deserve." Now, Pate wants to turn her experience into something positive to help survivors find support. Her desire for change led her to join the Domestic Violence Task Force at Moffitt Cancer Center. This new group is dedicated to spreading domestic violence awareness to the community. The Task Force will host the free program "Domestic Violence: Through The Eyes of the Responder" from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. March 4 in the Ferman Family Conference Room at the Vincent A. Stabile Research Building, 12902 Magnolia Drive. This presentation will provide medical staff with the knowledge they need to help a patient or loved one in a domestic violence situation. The program will examine the roles of law enforcement, the functions of victim advocates, and the local services and shelters available in Hillsborough County. Guest speakers include: Charles Nelson, regional director of the Guardian ad Litem 13th Judicial Circuit; Nanci Newton, director of the University of South Florida Victim's Advocacy Program; Joanne Olvera Lighter, president and CEO of The Spring of Tampa Bay; and Detective Dale Osada, Tampa Police Department. This presentation is open to the public. The program fulfills the requirement for Nursing Licensure in Florida. Each participant will be awarded two contact hours under Florida provider number FBN-3184. No partial credit will be given. The Greater Tampa Chapter of Oncology Nursing Society will sponsor a drive for The Spring of Tampa Bay organization during the event. Clothing, food, and toiletry donations will be accepted. Pizza and light refreshments will be served. Please R.S.V.P. to Brenda Howard at Brenda.Howard@Moffitt.org or (813) 745-5771.
|