Members of the Health Center Community Volunteer Their Time in Haiti

Posted on by Melanie L Burnat

Last week, a group of 11 men and women from the UConn Health Center community left for a 16-day medical mission to the University Hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. They are volunteering their time and talent with the International Medical Corps, a global humanitarian organization. They have promised to send me photos from their mission and here are a few that I just received.

Dawn Smith takes a break from her nursing duties while working at the Hospital Universidad et Haiti in Port of Prince, Haiti.
Dawn Smith takes a break from her nursing duties while working at the Hospital Universidad et Haiti in Port of Prince, Haiti.
Drs. Lynn Kosowicz and Susan Levine are running the ICU at the Hospital Universidad et Haiti in Port of Prince, Haiti.
Drs. Lynn Kosowicz and Susan Levine are running the ICU at the Hospital Universidad et Haiti in Port of Prince, Haiti.
MaryBeth Barry charts in a medical record in an emergency tent in Port of Prince.
Mary Beth Barry charts in a medical record in an emergency tent in Port of Prince.

The UConn team includes specially trained physicians, nurses and nurse practitioners including:

  • Michael Fishcher, M.D., Internal Medicine
  • Lynn Kosowicz, M.D., Internal Medicine
  • Susan Levine, M.D., Internal Medicine (community physician; clinical faculty)
  • Mitch McGrath, R.N., General Medicine
  • Mary Beth Barry, A.P.R.N., Cardiology/General Medicine
  • Laura Glynn, R.N., General Medicine
  • Dawn Smith, R.N., General Medicine
  • Katherine Anderson, R.N., General Medicine
  • Kathleen Curley, R.N., General Medicine
  • Christy Meyer, R.N., Emergency Medicine/ICU
  • Rachel Jones, R.N., General Medicine

Though it has now been two months since the devastating earthquake, Haiti is still in dire need of medical attention and care. The needs are complex and it will take many more months, if not years, to rebuild its medical infrastructure. I look forward to the safe return of our Health Center group and appreciate the sacrifice they are making.