[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 12, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E363]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING LORNA MULLINGS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 12, 2008

  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Lorna 
Mullings, a remarkable woman who after a 13-year career in banking, 
pursued her real passion of nursing. So in 1986, as a new immigrant, an 
active church worker, a wife and mother of two small children, Lorna 
Mullings decided to return to school and become a Registered Nurse.
  In June of 1992, she graduated from St. Joseph College with a 
bachelors degree in nursing, Amid the cheers of her now teenage 
children, she graduated Hunter College with a double masters in nursing 
and public health in 2002. However, midway through pursuing her masters 
degree which was focusing on HIV/AIDS, she was doing course work on 
health disparities among developed and developing countries when 
``something hit home.'' There was a definite connection with a previous 
paper in her undergraduate studies in which she documented her life's 
goal to work among the poor people of Somalia. This was also a time of 
defining professional and personal dreams and because her belief in God 
was so strong, she knew that becoming a missionary nurse was her 
special calling.
  With her pastor's/husband's approval, blessing, and backing, she 
formed the Dorcas Medical Mission in 1999. In 2000, Lorna planned and 
implemented the mission's first outreach to Kingston, Jamaica. Since 
that time, she has led 15 medical missions to nine countries, bringing 
free dental, medical, surgical, food and clothing to thousands of needy 
families worldwide. In addition to these missions, she is currently in 
the process of opening an orphanage in Alexandria, South Africa for the 
caring of children left orphaned by parents who were victims of HIV/
AIDS.
  Lorna Mullings has worked as a nurse for over 15 years in the areas 
of medical, surgical, endoscopy, recovery, psychiatry, administration 
and community health. Today, she works as a nurse manager at the 
Interfaith Medical Center, managing the pediatric and medical surgical 
units.
  Madam Speaker, Ms. Mullings is well deserving of our respect for her 
humanitarian works and charitable outreach--she went on to initiate the 
Rugby Feeding Program, which now feeds over 70 homeless people with hot 
meals 4 days a week and heads the Rugby Family Services. Her compassion 
for the less fortunate is indeed noteworthy, and I am proud to 
recognize her today.

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