The Flight to Haiti

From Toni Brayer, M.D., Chief Medical Officer Sutter Health West Bay Region, Leader for Sutter Health's Help for Haiti

Sutter Health’s surgical team deployed to Port-au-Prince after a mad scramble to get necessary documents filed with the State Department, paperwork filed with HR and travel immunizations completed. Before leaving for Haiti, the team also rounded up vital medical supplies and equipment and loaded them into suitcases, which had to meet strict weight limits.

Despite delays at San Francisco International airport, the team departed as planned on two separate flights. The first group successfully made their connection in Atlanta, boarding a small private plane provided by Med Assets to transport them to Haiti. They arrived in Port-au-Prince at 3 a.m. (Haiti time) on Friday. The second group will fly in from Fort Lauderdale and should arrive in Port-au-Prince on Saturday.

While flying to Atlanta, Dr. Stephen Lockhart, leader of the surgical team, happened to sit next to a representative from iStat. (They make small portable units for drawing blood at a patient’s bedside.)The two began talking, and Dr. Lockhart explained the team’s mission. That conversation prompted a generous offer from iStat. They would provide bedside units to Sutter Health’s team in Ft. Lauderdale to bring to Haiti. It was either a great stroke of luck or divine intervention, but we can now bring even more urgently needed equipment to Haiti’s earthquake victims.

The Sutter volunteer team is:

Anesthesiologists

• Steve Lockhart, M.D., Chief Medical Officer Sutter Health East Bay Region
• John Donovan, M.D., Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
• Vernon Huang, M.D., Mills-Peninsula Health Services

General Surgeon

• Susan Bailey, M.D., California Pacific Medical Center

Orthopedic Surgeons

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

OR Nurses

• Joan Chamberlain, R.N., Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
• Cassie Kinser, R.N., California Pacific Medical Group
• DJ Eadades, R.N., California Pacific Medical Group
• Isaias Camacho, R.N., California Pacific Medical Group
  

Pulmonary Acute Care Specialists

• Joanne Squire, R.N., California Pacific Medical Group
• Elizabeth Petruzzella, R.N., California Pacific Medical Group
• Christina Crane, R.N., California Pacific Medical Group
• Scott Callaghan, R.N., California Pacific Medical Group
  

Our dedicated volunteers could not have made this trip without the help of their support team within Sutter Health. Special thanks and snaps go to:

• Georgette Kearsing, technology assessment coordinator, Sutter Health Support Services
• June Quinones, administrative secretary, Sutter Health Support Services
• Pat Shepherd, director, Value Analysis & Strategic Sourcing, Sutter Health Support Services
• Jim Reich, Accounting director, Sutter Health Support Services
• Carol Ohlmeyer, Disbursements supervisor, Sutter Health Support Services
• Katie Moracco, executive assistant, Sutter Health Support Services
• James Huston, director of Materials Management, Sutter Lakeside Hospital
• Don McMann, vice president of Materials Management, Mills-Peninsula Health Services
• Annelise Wirick, project support specialist, Sutter Health Support Services
• Veronica Barnett, project support specialist, Sutter Health Support Services
  

We know the surgical team will be hitting the ground running, but they have promised to send us updates when they can. So stay tuned!