Merck Childhood Asthma Network, Inc. and
Merck & Co., Inc. Neighbor of Choice

The Merck Childhood Asthma Network, Inc. (MCAN) seeks to be a leading national resource for and an advocate on behalf of children with asthma by working with national, regional, and community partners. MCAN intends to advance comprehensive community-based approaches that facilitate the adoption of effective asthma interventions. We aim to demonstrate that, while asthma currently is not curable, it is manageable when children and their families have access to and utilize quality healthcare services.

Proactive responses to the needs of the asthma community are essential. MCAN recognizes community outreach and advocacy programs as credible methods in deploying these models into communities. Improving access to resources, encouraging active communication and collaboration amongst community groups and strengthening community partnerships that share similar interests are needed. Forums for discussing and utilizing these models can provide ideas for building and strengthening healthy communities.

In conjunction with Merck’s Neighbor of Choice (NOC) program, which operates in communities where Merck facilities are located in the U.S., MCAN is lending its expertise in community outreach, advocacy and asthma counseling. These services are provided by Eleanor (Ellie) Thornton, MS, CHES, AE-C, an MCAN consultant who is board certified in both health and asthma education with extensive hands-on experience at both national and community levels to address the burden and control of childhood asthma. Her practical approach to asthma counseling, community outreach and advocacy has facilitated successful community collaborations, programs and long term support systems for families struggling with asthma management.

Merck & Co, Inc., Elkton, VA
In March 2007, MCAN Executive Director, and nationally recognized asthma expert, Dr. Floyd Malveaux and MCAN Consultant, Eleanor Thornton conducted a 3 hour in-service training with approximately 40 local nurses from schools, clinics, and private offices at Rockingham Memorial Hospital in Harrisonburg, VA.  They presented an overview of asthma, current trends in asthma management, managing asthma in the schools and an interactive session on asthma management devices. The participants received a number of resources including the Starlight/Starbright Asthma Tool Kit for Schools. MCAN continues this relationship through on-going mentoring of individuals in the cardio-pulmonary dept. of the Rockingham Memorial Hospital, in community outreach, asthma education services and proposal writing.

 Helping kids with asthma live fuller lives by Karen Doss Bowman
Courtesy of Rockingham Memorial Hospital Marketing & Communications
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Merck Sharp & Dohme, San Juan, Puerto Rico
In June 2007, Floyd Malveaux and MCAN Consultant, Eleanor Thornton, traveled to San Juan to participate in asthma education training for 20 school nurses from schools in the Arecibo and Bayamon regions of the island.  MCAN worked closely with the NOC representative at MSD Puerto Rico to arrange this culturally appropriate and previously validated training through the University of Puerto Rico's Behavioral Sciences Research Institute.  In addition, MCAN participatedin meetings with the Secretary of Education and Director of Nursing Education of the PR Department of Education to discuss the expansion of this training to other schools and regions on the island.