Since September 12, 2001, McConnell has headed GIS at the Office of Emergency Management, when he was drafted from City Planning to coordinate the City's GIS capacity in the aftermath of 9/11. Working with 100 GIS experts from many government agencies and private companies, McConnell and his colleagues made thousands of maps in the first few weeks that were critical in rescue and recovery efforts.
McConnell is frequently described by colleagues as "an extraordinary, consummate professional" because of the scope of his knowledge about all the elements required to use GIS well—"data, software, hardware, people, politics and GIS science." He anticipates what economic, demographic, social, health, education, physical infrastructure data might be needed and gets it by forging rare partnerships with hundreds of public and private agencies. Recently, McConnell created the definitive map of the City's 400-plus subway stations, from the staircases to escape hatches, by obtaining the blue prints and converting them to GIS format. It was immediately useful in containing a track fire at a subway station in Brooklyn. Says OEM Commissioner Joseph Bruno, "Quantifying and mapping New York City is McConnell's passion. It would be hard to overstate the benefits that accrue to ordinary New Yorkers because of his quiet and constant leadership."
]]>Whether it is a hurricane, a fire, a flood, a black out or a terrorist threat, the City turns to James McConnell, Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Data, Office of Emergency Management and his team to produce the GIS data maps that are essential to the City's emergency response. Since the late 1980s when GIS emerged as an important technology that captures, manages, analyzes and presents geographically referenced data, McConnell has been one of the GIS trailblazers for the City and is now one of the foremost GIS experts in the country.
Since September 12, 2001, McConnell has headed GIS at the Office of Emergency Management, when he was drafted from City Planning to coordinate the City's GIS capacity in the aftermath of 9/11. Working with 100 GIS experts from many government agencies and private companies, McConnell and his colleagues made thousands of maps in the first few weeks that were critical in rescue and recovery efforts.
McConnell is frequently described by colleagues as "an extraordinary, consummate professional" because of the scope of his knowledge about all the elements required to use GIS well—"data, software, hardware, people, politics and GIS science." He anticipates what economic, demographic, social, health, education, physical infrastructure data might be needed and gets it by forging rare partnerships with hundreds of public and private agencies. Recently, McConnell created the definitive map of the City's 400-plus subway stations, from the staircases to escape hatches, by obtaining the blue prints and converting them to GIS format. It was immediately useful in containing a track fire at a subway station in Brooklyn. Says OEM Commissioner Joseph Bruno, "Quantifying and mapping New York City is McConnell's passion. It would be hard to overstate the benefits that accrue to ordinary New Yorkers because of his quiet and constant leadership."
Born in 1909, Virginia Apgar (1909-1974) defied social conventions at a young age. She was one of the first women to ever attend medical school, graduating from Columbia University despite the economic struggles of Great Depression. She originally intended to pursue surgery, but women were not allowed to enter the profession at that time. Instead, Apgar turned to anesthesiology, where she helped the practice develop into a specialty. In particular, she researched the effects and usage of anesthesia in childbirth, and became Columbia’s first female full professor.
Her biggest contribution to the world of medicine came with the development of the Apgar score. This system was designed to measure and rate the pulse, breathing rate, reflexes, color, and muscle tone of newborn babies. A critical process of evaluation, it continues to save countless lives today.
When she was 50 years old, Virginia Apgar earned a master’s degree in public health, traveling with the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (March of Dimes) to raise money and awareness.
Not only is she recognized for her medical contributions, but she also played an important role for women wishing to enter the medical field.
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Dr. Virginia Apgar examining an infant with a stethoscope.
Born in 1909, Virginia Apgar (1909-1974) defied social conventions at a young age. She was one of the first women to ever attend medical school, graduating from Columbia University despite the economic struggles of Great Depression. She originally intended to pursue surgery, but women were not allowed to enter the profession at that time. Instead, Apgar turned to anesthesiology, where she helped the practice develop into a specialty. In particular, she researched the effects and usage of anesthesia in childbirth, and became Columbia’s first female full professor.
Her biggest contribution to the world of medicine came with the development of the Apgar score. This system was designed to measure and rate the pulse, breathing rate, reflexes, color, and muscle tone of newborn babies. A critical process of evaluation, it continues to save countless lives today.
When she was 50 years old, Virginia Apgar earned a master’s degree in public health, traveling with the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (March of Dimes) to raise money and awareness.
Not only is she recognized for her medical contributions, but she also played an important role for women wishing to enter the medical field.
GEORGE ELIOT
Elizabeth Grace Neill ( 1846 - 1926) was a nurse from New Zealand who lobbied for passage of laws requiring training and registration of nurses and midwives in New Zealand. Neil was back in health care upon the establishment of the New Zealand’s Department of Health, creating a nursing service. 1901 came, and Neil got the privilege of helping draft a bill aimed to protect the public from nursing malpractice for New Zealand Parliament, one that became the world’s first Nurses’ Registration Act. Soon after, the Midwives’ Registration Act was passed and Neil was given the task of setting up the very first state maternity hospital, the St. Helen’s Hospital, which opened in 1905 and followed by 3 more in a span of 2 years. Elizabeth Grace Neil’s thorough knowledge of the technicalities of nursing profession made her a crucial personality in the international nursing politics.]]>What do we live for if not to make life less difficult for each other?
GEORGE ELIOT
Elizabeth Grace Neill ( 1846 - 1926) was a nurse from New Zealand who lobbied for passage of laws requiring training and registration of nurses and midwives in New Zealand. Neil was back in health care upon the establishment of the New Zealand’s Department of Health, creating a nursing service. 1901 came, and Neil got the privilege of helping draft a bill aimed to protect the public from nursing malpractice for New Zealand Parliament, one that became the world’s first Nurses’ Registration Act. Soon after, the Midwives’ Registration Act was passed and Neil was given the task of setting up the very first state maternity hospital, the St. Helen’s Hospital, which opened in 1905 and followed by 3 more in a span of 2 years. Elizabeth Grace Neil’s thorough knowledge of the technicalities of nursing profession made her a crucial personality in the international nursing politics.