Haiti medical relief: Thank you!

Monday, June 06, 2011

Thank you!

Just over $1100 was donated to purchase medications for cholera. The stellar pharmacist I work with (Emily) ordered meds and I picked up some of them on Saturday. I will be picking up the rest later this week. The first of the meds are on their way to Haiti today (thanks Jeff!), and the rest should be there sometime in the next couple weeks.

This need is ongoing--cholera is not going away anytime soon--so please continue to donate if you are able to. To donate, see this post for details or click here to donate (click on the 2nd Paypal button). With the right medications, supplies, and (especially) personnel, cholera can be successfully treated.

Thank you again for your generosity!
Jen

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what I'm doing

I first traveled to Haiti in 1998. For the next 10 years, I visited Haiti once or twice a year, working with various organizations but mainly with Providence Ministries. I finished pediatric residency in June 2007 and spent 9 months volunteering as a pediatrician in Haiti from Sept 2007 through May 2008, then started fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine. I finished fellowship in mid-2011 then started an attending job. My state-side home is in Minnesota.

While in Haiti in 2007-08, I worked at a medical clinic in La Digue, a small village about 30 miles north of Port au Prince. We saw children with conditions common in the developing world, such as malnutrition, malaria and parasites, as well as conditions common in children all over the world, like respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.

Five days after the earthquake in January 2010 I joined a medical relief team at Heartline Field Hospital in Port au Prince. I initially planned to stay 6 weeks but ended up staying for about 5 months total throughout the year, traveling back and forth multiple times in 2010 while running the field hospital. I have had the privilege of providing medical care for some of the strongest, bravest people I've ever met.

In 2011 and beyond my medical work in Haiti has continued, first by responding to the cholera epidemic, then in other areas as needs have arisen. I continue to work with several different organizations in Haiti including Heartline Ministries. I spent over 4 months in Haiti in 2011 and I'm looking forward to several more months in-country coming up in 2012.