SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2005 - Indianapolis, IN – Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) will visit the Pediatrics Clinic on the St.Vincent Indianapolis Hospital campus to promote the national campaign “Reach Out and Read.” Lugar will read to children during his visit to the clinic on the first floor at 8220 Naab Rd.
Sen. Lugar will be joined by Judith Monore, MD, commissioner, Indiana State Department of Health and a St.Vincent physician, and Matt Veno, director of Government Affairs for the national Reach Out and Read program.
Reach Out and Read is a national early literacy program designed to take advantage of access pediatricians have to children who are in their critical early years (6 months to 5 years) of cognitive and language development. Across Indiana, 70 physician-based sites distribute more than 100,000 new books annually reaching 80,000 Hoosier children and their families.
More than 550 Indiana physicians and nurses have been trained in the program, including the healthcare professionals at the St.Vincent Children’s Hospital Pediatrics Clinic.
“We are excited about Sen. Lugar’s visit and his support of the Reach Out and Read program for young children,” says Patricia Maryland, Dr.PH, president of St.Vincent Hospitals and Health Services. “We treat more than 10,000 patients every year at our clinic, and Reach Out and Read gives us a wonderful opportunity to encourage young children to read. We thank Sen. Lugar for taking the time to visit.”
