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An MUSC Hero Medical Records’ Shuler saves choking co-worker by Cindy Abole Public Relations Health Information Services’ Kaye Perry was experiencing a typical Tuesday at work this past October. Wanting to catch up on her workload, she decided to work through break and eat lunch at her desk. Suddenly, she began choking on her food and struggled for breath. She jumped up with arms flailing trying to get her co-workers’ attention until they realized the urgency of Perry’s situation. Some co-workers scrambled out of the area to get help. In another room, supervisor Pam Schuler reacted to the distress and made her way to the commotion. Sue Pletcher, right, recognizes Pam Schuler with an MUSC Applause award for her heroics in saving a co-worker. A petite lady, Schuler got behind Perry and encircled her arms around the victim’s waist. Using the Heimlich Maneuver, she calmly gave a couple of quick upward thrusts with her fists clenched below Perry’s ribcage. But the third time was the charm and out came the dislodged food, a piece of pizza.  Moments later, a shaken but grateful Perry was smiling and laughing while recounting the incident with absent co-workers.  “It happened so quickly,” said Perry. “I didn’t know what to do. I was just glad that Pam was nearby and reacted so quickly to help me. She saved my life.” A quiet and modest lady, Schuler is adjusting nicely to Charleston and the hospital environment. She is a newcomer to Charleston and joined MUSC’s Medical Records staff in July. A former paralegal and native Virginian, Schuler’s role is supervising the release of medical information to the public for health information services.  “Pam has already been a great addition to our staff,” said Kelly Shaw, manager of medical records. “She’s a dedicated and helpful team player. It’s no surprise to me that she knew just what to do in a desperate situation.” “Pam is the bomb, when it comes to supervisors,” said Carla Thomas, administrative specialist and co-worker in medical records. “She’s sweet, down-to-earth and a very caring individual. She’s pleasant, has a great sense of humor, and is easy to work with.”  “I’m pleased to see someone like Pam be recognized for her actions,” said Sue Pletcher, director of health information services/patient access services. “It's amazing how a person can perform when they’re called to action. Pam was very calm and efficient and handled a desperate situation very well. By doing this, she helped calm Kaye and others around her during those tense moments. I’m proud of her.” To show their appreciation, Perry, Pletcher and the medical records staff nominated Schuler for an MUSC Applause Award for her heroic act. The staff proudly presented Schuler with her Applause certificate at their Dec. 1 staff meeting.  Editor’s note: At MUSC, heroes abound. They exist in the form of caregivers, faculty, students and staff. The Catalyst's MUSC Heroes is a column that offers employees and staff the opportunity to recognize MUSC's everyday heroes. Send an e-mail about your MUSC hero along with your name and office phone number to catalyst@musc.edu.  Friday, Dec. 3, 2004 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.