The Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club will host Elizabeth McLellan, president and founder of Partners for World Health at its evening meeting on Oct. 8. Partners for World Health is headquartered in South Portland. The organization provides recycled medical supplies to health clinics around the world. Partners for World Health has built an organization out of dedicated volunteers to improve health care for those less fortunate here in the USA and abroad. Organized systems have been developed in health care facilities, where staff identify medical items set for discard; volunteers are involved in the pick-up, sorting and organizing; international organizations are identified as recipients in need; fundraising efforts focus on collaboration between support in the US and international companies supportive of improvement in health care for their country; deliveries are made through major container shipment or private individuals. The end result reflects improvement in health care by making sure that all have the medical supplies needed to care for vulnerable populations. Believing that we all have a moral obligation, Partners for World Health has delivered full container loads of medical supplies to over 50 locations in Africa, SE Asia and Central America

Having traveled throughout the world, in 1986 Elizabeth McLellan accepted a position in health care administration for a level one trauma center in Saudi Arabia. While working for Saudi ARAMCO she participated in the development of multinational nursing staff with a focus on collaboration and value. New innovative programs were developed for blood pressure and diabetes management in addition to the creation of a clinic based primary health care model. While working with a collaborative approach influenced by her understanding of Middle Eastern cultural issues and sensitivities, Elizabeth served in an administrative capacity developing disaster plans for potential biological warfare during the Gulf War. She has traveled extensively visiting third world countries and witnessed dramatic health care needs in every country. Having vision and extreme tenacity, Elizabeth returned to the US charged to meet the challenges of worldwide medical supply deficiencies. Until September 2013, Elizabeth worked as a Nursing Administrator for Maine Medical Center in Portland at the level one trauma center. In addition she is an active board member and past president for the World Affairs Council. Her community wide volunteer focus is genuine and true with involvement with the Portland Museum of Art, Portland Ovations, Maine Historical Society, Learning Works, among others. She is an innovative thinker and developed the successful Blue Wrap Project Runway focusing on creating wearable fashion design out of a surgical recycled fabric; all saved from the land fill. Her love of life, her projects and her passions do not translate into “work” but rather reflect just, a way of living.

Guests are always welcome to join us at our weekly meetings, held Thursday nights at the new Rotary Clubhouse, 66 Montgomery Road in Boothbay Harbor. Conviviality commences around 6 p.m., dinner is served promptly at 6:30, and we then have a short business meeting followed by the evening’s speaker. The evening ends at 8 p.m.