Sutter Health’s Bay Area Medical Team Reports on Experiences in Haiti

SACRAMENTO, Calif. February 2, 2010 - A 15-member surgical team from three of Sutter Health’s Bay Area hospitals returned after seven days spent providing much-needed critical care in Haiti. The team, departed Thursday, January 21, and returned Friday and Saturday. They took equipment, anesthesia, medication and other supplies to aid victims of the earthquake.

This effort to send medical personnel to Haiti is part of Sutter Health’s larger commitment to relief efforts. Sutter contributed its largest disaster relief donation in the history of the health care system – $1.25 million to help the victims of the powerful earthquake.

Members of the surgical team expressed their extreme gratitude to their ‘home’ team at who filled in, donated hours, coordinated schedules and worked so hard to help make this trip happen. One member said, “Kudos to the Sutter team here who did back flips to make our trip possible. Thanks so much for the monumental effort.” Members of the Haiti team include:

Anesthesiologists:
John Donovan, M.D, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center (his blog at www.shhelpshaiti.blogspot.com was invaluable in following events)
Vernon Huang, M.D., Mills-Peninsula Health Services
Steve Lockhart, M.D., Chief Medical Officer Sutter Health East Bay Region

General Surgeon:
Susan Bailey, M.D., California Pacific Medical Center

Orthopedic Surgeons:
David Chang, M.D., Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
Taylor Smith, M.D., California Pacific Medical Center
Scott Taylor, M.D., Alta Bates Summit Medical Center

OR Nurses:
Isaias Camacho, R.N., California Pacific Medical Center
Joan Chamberlain, R.N., Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
DJ Eadades, R.N., California Pacific Medical Center
Cassie Kinser, R.N., California Pacific Medical Center

Pulmonary Acute Care Specialists
Scott Callaghan, R.N., California Pacific Medical Center
Christina Crane, R.N., California Pacific Medical Center
Elizabeth Petruzzella, R.N., California Pacific Medical Center
Joanne Squire, R.N., California Pacific Medical Center

This valuable and life saving/changing effort was coordinated by Toni Brayer, MD, leader of Sutter Health Help for Haiti and Chief Medical Officer of the Sutter Health West Bay Region.

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Contact
Kami Lloyd
916-847-6621, 916-286-6695
LloydK@sutterhealth.org

Kevin McCormack
415-600-7484
pager 415-232-6463
mccormkd@sutterhealth.org

Carolyn Kemp
510-869-8220
kempc2@sutterhealth.org