Dartmouth Haiti Response deploys 14 medical personnel to Port-au-Prince
May 14, 2010
Lebanon, NH
A 14-member Dartmouth Haiti Response team was deployed to Port-au-Prince on Sunday, May 16, as part of ongoing efforts to help with long-term relief efforts in wake of the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that left thousands injured and in need of medical care in January. The latest team will bring the total number of Dartmouth-Hitchcock medical personnel sent to the area to 39.
The Dartmouth Haiti Response is an ongoing collaboration involving Dartmouth College, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Dartmouth Medical School and Partners in Health (PIH), a humanitarian relief organization co-founded by Dartmouth President Jim Yong Kim. The Dartmouth Haiti Response team is dedicated to continuing to help PIH organize future teams of volunteer medical clinicians to travel to Port-au-Prince to help staff the University Hospital in the upcoming months.
Doctors in this latest team include Scott Rodi, who will serve as team lead, Louis Dinicola, Elizabeth Talbot, Diana Fitzpatrick, Eric Gunnoe, Ryan Knapp, and Jonathan Huntington. Nurses are Virginia Beggs, who is the nursing co-leader with Dr. Rodi, Sara McMillian, Cindy Anthony, Denise Owens and Kim Gagnon. Physical and Occupational Therapists are Aimee Burnett and Barbara Abraham. Another 20-member team is scheduled to deploy on June 10. In addition to Dartmouth-Hitchcock providers, team members from Gifford Medical Center in Randolph, Vt., and Maine Medical Center in Portland, Me.
"We remain committed to providing expert medical, nursing and rehabilitation care to the people of Haiti," said John Butterly, MD, Executive Vice President of Medical Affairs, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health, who is serving as the response's leader, with Rachel Allen, RN, and Mary Turco, EdD. "We are proud of the work our health care medical personnel have provided during our last five visits and know the sixth and seventh team will bring their top-notch clinical skills and compassionate care to University Hospital."
Since its formation, the Dartmouth Haiti Response has donated more than 20 tons of medical supplies, supported by the Dartmouth community's monetary donations. The value of the supplies, combined with the various donations, has exceeded $1 million.
To learn more about the Dartmouth Haiti Response, visit www.dhmc.org and click the "Dartmouth Stands with Haiti" link.
