MUSC family reaches out to Katrina
victims
MUSC was among dozens of national medical institutions and programs
which opened its doors to hundreds of Hurricane-Katrina-displaced
medical residents, faculty and researchers. The disaster affected the academic studies and experiences of hundreds of medical students and physicians-in-training. As the core of Tulane University medical students shifted their education and studies and relocated to Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, many physician-residents had to coordinate alternative clinical rotation experiences on a temporary basis at other accredited hospitals and medical institutions in different parts of the country.
MUSC Office of Graduate Medical Education responded by quickly reorganizing programs to provide room for displaced residents.
Melissa Walls, M.D., was well on her way to completing her fourth-year urology residency at Tulane University School of Medicine when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast area on Aug. 29. Walls was fortunate to fill a visiting residency slot in the Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine.
A Savannah native, Walls was appreciative of the quick coordination of activity and staffs at Tulane, MUSC’s Graduate Medical Education office and the South Carolina Board of Licensure to allow her and others to continue their medical education training.
Fifth-year Tulane resident Greg Goodear, M.D., is completing a three-month training rotation in MUSC’s Department of Gastroenterology. He is among 10 residents and fellows working within the department.
Family Medicine staff operates medical clinics in coastal Mississippi
Family Medicine’s Todd Detar, D.O., and Morgan Arvidson, M.D., joined a team of health care workers from MUSC and McCleod Hospital in Florence to provide medical relief to the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast in late October. The group supported a free medical clinic of a Red Cross site in Ocean Springs, Miss. The team was among many service-oriented groups who spent time helping to house, feed and care for dozens of displaced residents.
Individuals join relief teams in feeding and recovery efforts
Physical Plant’s Ron Meek and Mike Schultz joined Rutledge Tower Urology’s Sandra Buck, plus MUSC retirees Melvin Thompson and Ellison Kelly were among a group of South Carolina teams supporting the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief activities in Katrina-hit areas.
MUSC retiree Melvin
Thompson, left, joins another relief worker in preparing a hot meal to
feed hundreds of Katrina victims in Lake Charles, La.The trained teams support disaster relief activities and recovery services, plus the operation of mobile feeding units organized to respond to disaster-stricken areas. Teams prepare and serve hot, nutritious meals for thousands of disaster victims and support teams. Since September, teams have journeyed to affected communities in coastal Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Meek just returned from a five-day food and recovery mission in Pascagoula, Miss., where the need for outside, extended support is continuous. For 2006, the group is currently exploring plans to provide additional support to communities around Jackson County, Miss.
For information about the program and training, contact Meek at meekr@musc.edu.
Friday, Dec. 9, 2005
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