Haiti Assistance – Day 2 January 26, 2010

I am currently in Haiti providing medical relief. Traveling with Global Action Foundation who has a family physician, internist, trauma nurses, pharmacist and logistical folks.

American Airlines provided the flight for several organizations to fly to Haiti. We had to be at the airport at 2:30 AM for the 5 AM flight. Health care providers from across the country boarded the flight. We were instructed to follow security procedures but did not go thru security screening. We were bused from the terminal directly to the air craft. Local Miami TV crews were on the aircraft interviewing.

I am staying at the Haiti Gospel Mission who has a local clinic. We were expecting the clinic to have very little supplies and help. Instead they were fairly well stocked with medical supplies and health care providers. They currently have 2 nurses, 2 translators and a orthopedic Physicians Assistant (scheduled to leave in the morning).

We were able to obtain equipment and medications which we put on the flight. When we landed in Port au Prince the pallet with the supplies was not to be found.

Yesterday we reviewed the medication stock and saw some patients. Patients that we saw were mainly wound care, upper respiratory infection, skin infection. I have to now.

Yours in Good Health
Cheryl Smith

Haiti Assistance January 25, 2010

I am on finally on the flight to Port au Prince, Haiti. American Airlines has provided direct flights directly into Haiti for medical personel and media. There are various medical groups from around the country on the flight. As well as Christian media, international media, airline media, etc. A lot of the organizations have worked in Haiti prior to the earthquake.

Everyone is excited and anxious to start working. My team consist of 2 physicians, 2 nurses, and various logistical personel. We are carrying water, food packages, antibiotics, pain medications, etc.

I will update try to update everyone as much as possible.

Yours in Good Health
Dr. Smith

Travel To Haiti January 22, 2010

Like so many people I have been heartbroken by the images from Haiti after the earthquake. Physicians from around the world have answered the call to help. Some have been able to get into Haiti and others have been stuck at the border of the Dominican Republic. Physicians reporting from Haiti state that there is a significant need for surgical supplies and antibiotics. There is a need for auto fuel which has been prioritized to medical personel, United Nations and the military.

After 5 days of “I’m going to Haiti tomorrow” I am actually scheduled to leave to Port au Prince Monday AM.

Yours in Good Health

Haiti Relief January 19, 2010

GHESKIO has suffered some personal loss and several of the clinics have sustained structural damage.

Yours in Good Health
Cheryl Smith

Haiti Medical Relief January 19, 2010

Haiti has suffered a devastating natural disaster and the images projected from television screens have been heartbreaking.  It is heartwarming to see the overwhelming support shown by the world and some of  the stories coming out of Haiti have been inspirating.

Haiti is in disparate need of medical supplies which is finally getting into Port au Prince. It is estimated that 10-20,000 people will dye because they don’t have the necessary medical supplies in place to date.  There has been a tremendous out pouring of volunteers from  medical providers to provide direct medical care in Haiti. Doctors Without Borders (DWB) has a wait list for health care providers that are interested in volunteering in Haiti. DWB is currently accepting the services of surgeons and anesthesiologist.

I and a group of New York City health care providers were scheduled to fly to the border of Dominican Republic and Haiti on Sunday and provide medical care but the trip was delayed due to security concerns.  We are currently on hold for a phone call from the UN for flight schedules. Hopefully we will receive the call in the next several days.

Please consider assisting GHESKIO clinic, they are the largest HIV service provider in Haiti and they need financial assistance. They are working with Cornell Medical College for obtaining assistance at    http://www.wcmchelpshaiti.org/.

Yours In Good Health

Happy New Year January 1, 2010

New York City Lights - Columbus Circle

Happy New Year!!
2010 has arrived in a hurry. It was only yesterday that I rang in 2009 (in my mind).  That said, I am happy to see 2009 in the rear view mirror. For me and many others, 2009 provided an extremely valuable lesson, it forced us to value the simple things and pleasures of life more and place the challenges that come along the way into perspective.

May 2010 be filled with Joy, Love, Good Health, Inspiration and Safety.  A quote from someones new year’s text says it all  “you have just been handed a spanking fresh shiny brand New Year…don’t f@&k this one up.”

I have taken a long sabbatical from Dr Smith’s Health Corner but I promise that 2010 will be filled with more consistency and interesting readings.

Yours In Good Health

Happier Days with Certainty May 21, 2009

This op ed piece about America’s reaction to uncertainty is interesting. It’s fairly short, read it.

http://happydays.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/20/what-you-dont-know-makes-you-nervous/

 

Your In Good Health

The Passing of Pioneer Roger McFarlane May 18, 2009

It’s with surprise and sadness that I announce the passing of Roger McFarlane.  I first met Roger thru a dear friend. He was tall, charismatic, and confident.  He loved to talk to me about his experience as an HIV/AIDS care giver, organizer and executive.  Roger was there at the beginning of the HIV epidemic and bore witness to the devastating effects of HIV on friends and loved ones.  He, as many will attest to, dared to do something about the HIV epidemic. Roger started an HIV hotline, became  Gay Men’s Health Crisis’s first paid executive director and was executive director for Broadway Cares.  Most recently he was the executive director for the Gill Foundation.

Roger often gave career advise and was a great strategist. Lots will be said about Roger in the upcoming days, weeks and months but I will remember Roger for his strange humor, advise and laugh. We all carry a different piece of the man that had a profound impact on so many lives. God speed to his family and friends.

Yours in Good Health

Potential New NYC Health Commissioner May 17, 2009

 

 

 

 

Mayor Bloomberg is wasting no time selecting a new health comissioner for the city. It is rumored that Dr. Thomas Farley, currently a division head at Tulane University will become NYC’s Health Commissioner replacing Dr. Frieden.  The formal announcement will come tomorrow, May 18th. I have little personal knowledge about Dr. Farley outside of what is written in the NYTimes article (link below). He is said to be a staunch public health advocate and he has worked as an adviser to Dr. Frieden in the past. New York has a tendency to test the best of us. We will wait for the official announcement and wish who ever takes the position God speed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/17/nyregion/17health.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Yours in Good Health

CDC’s New Director Dr. Thomas Frieden May 16, 2009

President Obama selected Dr. Thomas Frieden as CDCs new director. Dr. Frieden served as New York City Department of Health’s Health Commissioner for 7 years. He has spearheaded several (then controversial) initiatives such as no smoking in offices, restaurants/bars, condom distribution, posting food calorie counts on menus in restaurants chains and most recently decreasing the salt content in meals. He is often mocked and ridiculed in the halls and offices of various New York City offices due to his style but love him or hate him you must respect him. He has made a tremendous impact on the health of all New Yorkers. In response to his appointment a recent New York magazine online post read, “Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden to Take Fun-Hating National.” America get ready to get healthier. Here comes a little guy with a giant health push.

Below are some recent articles and posts regarding Dr. Frieden and his Bio:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/commish/combio.shtml

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/15/thomas-frieden-cdc-direct_n_203828.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/19/nyregion/19lives.html

Yours In Good Health