Date
Time
Speakers: Merika Frazier Hawes, LMSW; Joetta Smith, RN, Chase Williamson
Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Augusta, Georgia area in the early morning hours of Friday, September 27, 2024. With wind gusts up to 80mph, the hurricane destroyed several homes and businesses, killed more than 25 people, created shortages of food, fuel, and ice, and caused loss of power and water to more than 200,000 residents. During natural disasters children with chronic health conditions may experience added stress due to interruptions in treatment, exposure to environmental triggers, damage of medical supplies, and challenges with accessing medications or medical equipment. A lived experience expert, Chase Williamson, will share his perspective as well.
Speaker Bios
Merika Hawes, MSW, LMSW is the hemophilia social worker at the Augusta University Pediatric Hemophilia Treatment Center at the Children's Hospital of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia. Merika has worked with children, adolescents, and families with both bleeding and clotting disorders since 2021. Merika received her Master of Social Work Degree from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC. She has over 10 years of direct experience as a social worker, with specific training in bleeding disorders, suicide prevention, and crisis management. Merika has been a part of NAMI Augusta since 2015.
Joetta Smith, RN, DNP began her career more than 20 years ago. She attended the Medical College of Georgia and obtained her BSN in nursing. She started out as a pediatric oncology nurse at the Medical College of Georgia. As a registered nurse, she continued to strive for more knowledge within the field of pediatric nursing. She is a nationally certified pediatric nurse and a certified pediatric oncology nurse. Joetta loves gaining knowledge and advancing in her career. In 2013, Joetta obtained her master’s in nursing education, and in 2019, she earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, all from Augusta University. Her doctoral thesis focused on creating a transition manual for educating youth with hemophilia.