Medical Teams International Responds to Crisis in Haiti

Their first team landed safely, the second team will leave Sunday, January 17.

UN photo by Marco Dromino

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Medical Teams International’s first disaster relief team arrived safely in Haiti today with medical personnel from throughout the Pacific Northwest; including Seattle, Portland and Spokane. The second team will leave Sunday, Jan. 17.

The team that arrived today included veteran volunteers Dr. Joe Markee of Portland, Ore. and Dr. Dan Diamond from Bremerton, Wash.

They are joined by registered nurses Linda Markee, Deanna King and Anne Blaufus. Dr. Markee and his wife Linda served as medical missionaries in Haiti for many years.

Dr. Diamond specializes in disaster response efforts and coordinated Medical Teams International medical emergency response following hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, La.

The second team will be led by Dr. Lew Zirkle an orthopedic surgeon from Richland, Wash. His team will include Ashok Shroff, an anesthesiologist and Jeanne Dillner, an RN. Dr. Zirkle has led many training sessions for Haitian orthopedic surgeons and knows the orthopedic community well.

He will be taking with him orthopedic supplies donated by the De Puy companies, an affiliate of Johnson & Johnson.

Medical Teams International is mobilizing shipments of medical supplies and distribution of financial aid to help in response to the worst disaster in Haiti in 200 years. Additional teams are being assembled and will leave next week.

Medical Teams International is also accepting cash contributions to send more volunteers and supplies.

To make an immediate, secure gift, please go to medicalteams.org. Or call, 1(800)959-HEAL (4325). Or send your contribution to: P.O. Box 10, Portland, OR 97207-0010.