ALUMNI RECOGNIZED FOR EXPANDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND SUPPORTING ROTARY’S WORK
By Dan Nixon Rotary News 13-JAN-2015
 
Dr. Geetha Jayaram has dedicated her life to helping people in her native India and the United States overcome the torment of severe depression, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, and other mental illnesses. Jayaram is a psychiatrist and associate professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality.
 
In 1997, a year after joining the Rotary Club of Columbia, Maryland, USA, Jayaram founded the Maanasi Clinic in Mugalur, Karnataka, India. The Rotary Foundation Trustees have chosen to recognize Jayaram with the 2014-15 Rotary Foundation Global Alumni Service to Humanity Award. She will be honored at the Rotary International Convention in São Paulo, Brazil, on 8 June.
 
Jayaram's connection with Rotary began when she joined Rotaract at age 19. "We feel very strongly about global participation [to help others]," she says. "We need to put the word out more about Rotary, because lots of people have no idea what Rotary does."
 
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CONCENTRATES ON ADVANCING ROTARY'S WORK
The Rotary Alumni Association of District 4920 in Argentina is well connected to alumni and Rotary members around the globe. Several alumni have joined Rotary and worked to establish other alumni associations in South America, as well as mentoring those who want to become more active in Rotary.
 
In recognition of its work, the association has been named winner of the 2014-15 Rotary Foundation Alumni Association of the Year Award. Members of the group will receive the award on 8 June at the Rotary International Convention.