It has been two years since the hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of Mexico, and the Volunteers at The University of Tennessee are continuing to aid the survivors.

Since the disaster, many University of Tennessee College of Nursing faculty and students have traveled to New Orleans to aid the victims of Katrina with healthcare through Knoxville-based medical service organizations. During this time, the students had a chance to work in different situations and with a different demographic than is in Knoxville.

The International Medical Alliance (IMA) and Remote Area Medical (RAM) are the two organizations through which the College of Nursing has been working. IMA was started by Dorothy Davidson, a UT nursing alum, and her husband, Dr. Dale Betterton. RAM works with IMA in providing supplies and volunteers for relief efforts, such as Katrina.

Recently, associate professor Dava Shoffner took five nurse practitioner students to New Orleans to provide healthcare for women through the IMA Medical Clinic. The clinic was set up at the Audubon Zoo and was there for patients of Charity Hospital, a hospital that provides care despite insurance coverage or income. The clinic has since then been moved to another location.

The IMA Medical Clinic offers help patients of Charity Hospital at no cost in several medical areas, such as women's health, dentistry, and optometry care.