Rush University Medical Center is organizing a number of volunteers to go to Haiti to treat earthquake victims. The first group of approximately 15 medical professionals will be leaving Monday, January 25th, and returning on February 3rd.

The roster includes internists, pediatricians and specialists and nurses in plastic surgery, cardiology/critical, orthopedics, pediatric orthopedics and anesthesiology. The first team will be working with the mission outreach group Endeavor that has an established clinic and acute care center in Port-au-Prince.

"From our contacts in Port-au-Prince, we have been told the 'second wave' of problems is hitting - including infections and complications necessitating the need for primary care as well as surgery," said Dr. Stephanie Wang, a Rush internal medicine physician who has worked with the aid group Endeavor on numerous missions to the Dominican Republic.
Among the first group to head to Port-au-Prince is internal medicine physician Dr. Myriame Casimir, a native of Haiti.

"The minute I found out what had happened in Haiti, I knew I had to go back home to help out. I am lucky that my family back home was not harmed in the earthquake, but so many Haitians are in need," said Casimir. "On a personal and professional level, I was determined to go back to Haiti."

Rush is also working with the University of Illinois at Chicago and Stroger Cook County Hospital to organize at least two other medical teams scheduled to go to Haiti at the end of January. These missions will be coordinated by the International Medical Corps, a non-governmental organization founded by Dr. Robert Simon.

Several other professionals from Rush, including orthopedic surgeon Dr. John Fernandez and resident Dr. Jeff Van Thiel, are volunteering with other organizations sending aid workers. Fernandez and Van Thiel will fly to Haiti on Tuesday, February 26 with the group Partners in Health to work at an established clinic in Port-au-Prince.

"I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to go, and I have the skill set they need right now," said Fernandez. "Many of the doctors I've talked to want to go and offer their help, but it's difficult to find the connections to the established clinics."

In addition, hospital leaders at Rush are currently identifying supplies and medical equipment that can be sent to Haiti. The hospital's Rush Remedy program has connections with Mission Outreach and will be coordinating efforts to determine what supplies are most beneficial to the relief effort.

"There are many ways to contribute to the relief efforts in Haiti and we are fortunate to access our on-going work in the Dominican Republic and with the International Medical Corps to assist with these trips," said Dr. David Ansell. "In addition to those who are going to Haiti, there are many members of the Rush family doing their part to help the relief effort by helping organize the trips, gathering supplies, covering the relief workers shifts, and donating money."

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