Dr. Wendy Cook

Wendy Cook, medical director of Painted Turtle and a former Hole in the Wall Gang counselor, says the social and emotional issues these kids are burdened with day to day are enormous.Many have been isolated from normal activities and are filled with guilt by putting financial pressures on their family.

"A lot of these kids come to camp timid, reserved and pale," Cook says."But within days, kids come out of their shell and begin to thrive.A lot has to do with the support and what it can do for them.They gain a tremendous feeling of independence and self-esteem and finally feel accepted."

Newman's original vision was to provide a bona fide camp experience for these kids where they could "kick back and raise a little hell."
...
Cook believes that fostering independence helps these kids in terms of taking care of themselves - by being medically compliant and taking responsibility for their own illnesses.

"Camp changes the way they see things by feeling like part of a community and stop feeling sorry for themselves," Cook says."Taking their medicine more responsibly or being able to inject their medication is a big, important step."

But a bigger leap is also achieved by helping the children feel less isolated.

"There is a medical term called 'self-efficacy,' which means empowering an individual to take care of themselves," Cook says.

Also hopefully participating in this initial Professional Informational Meeting will be Dr. Wendy Cook , Medical Director of the Painted Turtle Camp currently being built in California.Professor Israeli holds a Master of Science in Public Health for Hebrew University of Jerusalem and an MBA from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.From 1988 - 2001 , he served as the Director General of the Hadassah Medical Organization in Israel.Currently , he holds the Chair of Health Care Management in the School of Public Health at the Hadassah Medical Center.Obviously , our Medical Committee will be a most important key to future development and this visit with colleagues will assist Professor Israeli in addressing the complicated aspects of our CampÂ's development that come under the aegis of the prestigious Medical Committee.Concurrent with this visit , the architectural firm of Yoram Bar and Liat Preiss , will visit the Hole in the Wall Camp in Ashford and Boggy Creek Gang Camp in Florida.TheyÂ'll also attention briefings at the Association Headquarters in New Haven.There they will gain greater understanding of the concept of such special camps.During their visit , they will meet both with architects currently designing other camps and with representatives of construction companies that have been previously involved in building camps.Designing such a facility must be very special , taking into consideration the special situations that come with the children we will serve.

"Lorry is one of the most extraordinary human beings I know," said Dr. Wendy Cook, medical director at the Painted Turtle.

Wendy Cook , medical director of Painted Turtle and a former Hole in the Wall Gang counselor , says the social and emotional issues these kids are burdened with day to day are enormous.Many have been isolated from normal activities and are filled with guilt by putting financial pressures on their family.

A lot of these kids come to camp timid , reserved and pale , Cook says.But within days , kids come out of their shell and begin to thrive.A lot has to do with the support and what it can do for them.They gain a tremendous feeling of independence and self-esteem and finally feel accepted..
...
Cook believes that fostering independence helps these kids in terms of taking care of themselves - by being medically compliant and taking responsibility for their own illnesses.

Camp changes the way they see things by feeling like part of a community and stop feeling sorry for themselves , Cook says.Taking their medicine more responsibly or being able to inject their medication is a big , important step..

But a bigger leap is also achieved by helping the children feel less isolated.

There is a medical term called 'self-efficacy , ' which means empowering an individual to take care of themselves , Cook says.

Wendy Cook, M.D.Medical Director, The Painted Turtle

Wendy Cook, MD, Medical Director, The Painted Turtle
...
Wendy Cook, MD, General Pediatrics, Medical Director, The Painted Turtle

- Dr. Wendy Cook, Former Medical Director

Our full-time medical staff is comprised of a Medical Director, Nursing Director, and four pediatric nurses.