Japan relief

Supporting Japan

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The earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, 2011, produced catastrophic devastation and human suffering on a scale difficult to imagine. According to Larry J. Shapiro, MD, executive vice chancellor and dean of the School of Medicine, more than 70 of our medical school faculty, students and staff list Japan as their country of origin.

"It is the culture of our community to be supportive of those in our midst who might be touched in a personal way by this tragedy," says Shapiro. "To them in particular, and to all members of the community who have ties to Japan and colleagues or collaborators there, we extend our sincerest hopes and wishes that your family and friends are safe and well."

The entire Washington University community has come together in support of Japan relief efforts. At the School of Medicine, students, faculty and staff turned out in large numbers for T-shirt, bake and craft sales held on March 23 in the Seashell Lobby in the McDonnell Medical Sciences Building.

The fundraising events were part of “Don’t Give Up, Japan!,” a campus-wide initiative sponsored by the Washington University Spouses & Partners Association and the Japanese Happy Hour, a scientific study group of Japanese researchers at the university. The sales sold out quickly; total funds raised reached about $7,500, and 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to Japan earthquake tsunami relief organizations.