haitian relief efforts
AMSNY Member Institutions Offer Aid to Those Affected by the Earthquake in Haiti
From bake sale fundraisers, to local counseling outreach in our New York Haitian communities, to sending doctors and other medical professionals who can provide direct care, the New York State medical schools are responding to the disaster in Haiti. We are proud of what the schools are doing and invite you to become involved in any way you can. The following are links to the efforts at our member schools and around the world.
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
- Mount Sinai School of Medicine
- New York University School of Medicine
- New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Stony Brook University Medical Center
- Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education at City University of New York
- State University of New York Downstate Medical Center
- State University of New York Upstate Medical University
- University at Buffalo, State University of New York School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Mount Sinai Medical Center:
(New York, NY - January 25, 2010) The Mount Sinai Medical Center is leading a relief effort for earthquake survivors in Haiti, with nearly 30 medical personnel currently serving at National Hospital in Port-au-Prince. To date, Mount Sinai has provided more than two tons of equipment and supplies for this endeavor with the assistance of the Greater New York Hospital Association.
Immediately following the earthquake, Mount Sinai coordinated an effort to assemble and fly medical and surgical supplies to Haiti. Ernest Benjamin, MD, Chief of the Division of Critical Care in the Department of Surgery and Director of the Surgical ICU, flew to Haiti along with Jean Louis Dupition, MD, a graduate of Mount Sinai's critical care fellowship, who now practices at Elmhurst Hospital Center. They were accompanied by Paul Farmer, MD, PhD, United Nations Deputy Special Envoy to Haiti. Dr Benjamin took medical supplies and medications provided by Mount Sinai. After their plane landed, Dr Benjamin treated many people at the airport before going to the National Hospital.
A second Mount Sinai team reached Haiti on January 20 to support Dr Benjamin at National Hospital and bring additional medications and supplies. The team is comprised of medical professionals, including surgeons, anesthesiologists, a pediatrician, nurses and technicians. Staff and faculty from Mount Sinai Queens, Elmhurst and Queens Hospital Centers, Maimonides, and Beth Israel joined in this endeavor. Additional medications and supplies are being sent to the team in Haiti tomorrow. Since their arrival at the National Hospital on Wednesday evening, the team has already organized operating rooms and recovery space, coordinated the flow of patients to the hospital, and performed at least 55 emergency surgical procedures.
Michael L. Marin, MD, Chair of the Department of Surgery, Lester Silver, MD, Chief of Plastic Surgery, and Michael McCarry, RN, Senior Vice President of Perioperative Services, are among those currently working at National Hospital to support Dr Benjamin in his deputized role as Director of Critical Care and the recovery room at National Hospital.
"The enormity of this tragedy has profoundly affected us all, most especially our faculty, staff, students, and friends with loved ones in Haiti," said Wayne E. Keathley, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Mount Sinai Hospital. "We will continue to do our part for those affected by this disaster."
The Mount Sinai medical personnel who are in Haiti as part of the relief effort include:
Jeanne Ambroise, RN; Kathleen Ashby, RN; Myrline Belzince, RN; Ernest Benjamin, MD; Sophia Cooper, RN; Valerie Davis, RN; Vidya Dayal, RN; Armando De Guzman, RN; James Gladstone, MD; Kimmarie Hammond; Augie Inneh; Duckens Louis; Abigail Lynn, MD; Kelly Marie Mann, MD; Michael L. Marin, MD; Michael McCarry, RN; Irene Osborn, MD; Sasan Roayaie, MD; Lester Silver, MD; Ted Tully, Stephen Yang, MD.
For those interested in volunteering, most response agencies require experience in disaster response, as well as familiarity with the local language. The Center for International Disaster Information is a good resource.
For those interested in long term volunteer planning, the U.S. Disaster Medical Assistance Teams are comprised of medical professionals who respond to disasters as volunteers. Click on any of the New York team links.
An additional source for interested volunteer medical and mental health professionals within New York State is via the state Department of Health's Volunteer Management System, ServNY. You'll need to have an HPN account in order to apply.
The American Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, and Partners in Health are agencies with an ongoing mission. Partners in Health is currently looking for experienced surgical and trauma volunteers, while Doctors Without Borders will be doing a recruitment information session in New York on February 23rd.
HaitiVOICES is a voluntary project administered by public health practitioners, physicians and humanitarian responders to facilitate the collection and dissemination of information pertinent to humanitarian response and logistics in Haiti from January 18th onwards.
Hôpital Albert Schweitzer (HAS) is an integrated rural health system, which provides medical care and community health and development programs for more than 300,000 impoverished people in the Artibonite Valley of central Haiti. Visiting medical professionals from North America and abroad work with a permanent Haitian staff of almost 550. Financial support comes from partner organizations and private individuals around the world.
Other excellent, comprehensive lists of organizations can be found on the following sites:
If you would like more information, or to list your outreach efforts, please contact us at info@amsny.org.
