Skip to main content

SLU’s Chapter of Physicians for Human Rights Sends Cards to Missouri Prisoners

SLU’s Chapter of Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) maintains a focus on human rights in the University’s own backyard.

PHR table

With the coordination of second-year medical students and PHR presidents Aditi Bommireddy and Grace Fredman, PHR members wrote Christmas cards to all the inmates in this unit.

As a holiday activity on Wednesday, Dec. 15, members of the PHR chapter met with faculty advisor, Fred Rottnek, M.D., and welcomed Sister Rose Rita Huelsmann from Criminal Justice Ministry (CJM) for a Christmas Card Party. During the party, PHR wrote Christmas cards for Missouri prisoners, and Huelsmann, director of volunteers at CJM, shared stories of the organization’s pastoral work at local prisons.

Recipients of these Christmas cards are in special unit in a Missouri prison and have several development problems and little support or correspondence with the outside world. With the coordination of second-year medical students and PHR presidents Aditi Bommireddy and Grace Fredman, PHR members wrote Christmas cards to all the inmates in this unit.

This year, SLU School of Law students and faculty Amy Sanders, J.D., joined the party. In addition to sending holiday greetings to 46 inmates, students and faculty reflected on the humanity of people incarcerated, reasons underlying the development of poor choices in those living in conditions of toxic stress and trauma, and the mixed messages society receives regarding criminal justice.

During this second annual event, CJM client Carnell discussed what it’s like to be incarcerated during the holiday season.