One of the most amazing things about this mission was the overwhelming number and breadth of volunteers. I met physicians, nurses, anesthetists, pharmacists, medical students and just plain people who came from across the US (and the world) to help. Many of these volunteers were part of impromptu groups. Just as I arrived a group of about 20 volunteers from Spain were departing. From Vermont groups of about 10 people rotated through for 1 - 2 weeks at a time. A similar set of groups from Baton Rouge rotated in and out. Of course there were also many individuals who came to help, some associated with organizations like the Peace Corps but also some who acted on their own.

Nurse, Ritu - Peds Infectious Disease, and John - Pharmacist

Physical Therapist from the Baton Rouge group

New volunteers arrive from the Vermont Group

Brenda, a school teacher from Nebraska (with cornrows) with Nurse from CA

Medical Students from The Mayo Clinic, some of whom helped with the victims

Ed, Chief Surgeon and Orthopedic Surgeon Extraordinaire

What was truly amazing was how so many individuals from such varied backgrounds worked so well together. Within minutes of meeting we were setting up an OR, operating and recovering patients. It seemed like we had been working together for years. I think this was because nearly everyone I encountered there was very experienced and tops in their disciplines.

Unfortunately, there are always a few bad apples. There was the occasional "volunteer" who was at best opportunistic. Although the credentials for the MDs, nurses, and others were scrutinized as much as in the States, the non-professional volunteers had no such credentialing upon which to rely. Some were there to try and gain experience in procedures that they could not perform legally in the states. Others, it seemed wandered from mission to mission in search of no particular goal, it seemed. I also encountered the occasional physician (although well qualified) who was along for the "joy ride." They were looking, I believe in this order, for recognition, good cases and to experience in a somewhat voyeuristic way human tragedy. When these did not materialize to their satisfaction, they moved on. I called this phenomenon medical voyeurism.

More to come

BRK