Larkin graduate to talk about efforts to eliminate tetanus in moms, kids

Dr. Timothy Erickson, a 1978 Larkin High School graduate, is returning to Elgin to help "Eliminate Maternal/Neonatal Tetanus." Join a presentation at 6 p.m. Monday, March 19, at Imago Creative Studios, 216 Prairie St. in Elgin.

After Dr. Erickson's graduation from Larkin High School he went on to earn his M.D. degree from the Chicago Medical School in 1986. He completed emergency medicine residency training at the University of Illinois and his medical toxicology fellowship at Cook County Hospital in Chicago.

Erickson then served as the director for the UIC Center for Global Health and Professor of Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology at the University of Illinois at Chicago and is now director of the Division of Medical Toxicology at Bringham & Woman's Hospital in Boston. He has presented at hundreds of national and international invited lectures related to global health based on his extensive international research and experience in Africa (Rwanda, Sudan, Kenya), Asia (India, Vietnam, Nepal), South America (Brazil, Peru, Argentina), Europe (Kosovo, Ukraine, France) and Antarctica.

Erickson's comments will be directed toward global health issues and more specifically their impact on the world's children and steps being taken to address related issues.

In addition to Erickson, Michael Grudzinski, senior director of UNICEF's Global Cause Partnerships, and Ann Updegraff Spleth, Kiwanis Children's Fund, will be presenting information regarding their organization's efforts to provide and improve the health of the world's children and their partnering efforts for the worldwide elimination of maternal/neonatal tetanus.

This Kiwanis Club of Elgin event is to promote Kiwanis International's partnership with UNICEF and its efforts to raise funds to "Eliminate Tetanus" in the 15 remaining countries that have yet to accomplish this worldwide goal. The goal that no mother or newborn dies needlessly as a result of a tetanus infection incurred prior to or at birth.

For more information regarding this event or if you are interested in attending/contributing to the elimination of maternal/neonatal tetanus, contact Rick Poulton at (847) 977-4541 or iigov2016.17@gmail.com. Support #KidsNeedKiwanis.