The MediSys Health Network Disaster Medical Response Team (DMRT) received a hero’s welcome after returning from a mission in Asheville, North Carolina.
The disaster response team of seven healthcare workers: Lisa Fraumeni-Pickel, RN DNP; Shiv Santram, RN; Igor Bazilevich, RN; Karen Benabou, MD; Jatinder Chopra, PA; Kody Fuller Hurst, RN and Jannina Rivera, RN, BSN, deployed on October 11th to provide much-needed support to Hurricane Helene survivors at the request of the International Medical Corps (IMC).
Hurricane Helene, a powerful Category 4 storm, caused significant destruction in North Carolina, displacing many residents and limiting their access to essential healthcare services and resources. In a coordinated effort with the IMC, the MediSys Health Network team worked tirelessly at shelters and mobile medical units to provide relief. They offered wound care, administered medications, delivered respiratory care, and other medical services as needed to patients of all ages. Fraumeni-Pickel and Chopra described working “12-hour shifts 7 days a week” while administering aid in Asheville in a recent interview with the Queens Courier newspaper.
During the two-week deployment, members of MediSys’ DMRT not only provided clinical services to hurricane survivors but also formed meaningful connections with many of the residents they cared for. Chopra recalled sharing moments of compassion with patients as they expressed their anxieties and grieved their losses. These experiences were emotional and brought tears to her eyes, she said.
The MediSys DMRT made a significant impact on the lives of patients hundreds of miles away in Asheville, North Carolina, by demonstrating the network’s commitment to providing high-quality healthcare and treating every patient with dignity. Patients expressed their sadness at the team’s departure on October 25th and extended their gratitude for the team traveling from New York to care for their community.
On Monday, October 28th, a homecoming event was held at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center to celebrate the return of the DMRT. The group received enthusiastic cheers from attendees following a heartfelt speech by Bruce J. Flanz, the President and CEO of MediSys Health Network. He expressed his gratitude to each team member for their sacrifices and presented them with awards in recognition of their service.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards also joined Mr. Flanz in honoring the team. He presented citations to the DMRT to acknowledge their hard work and expressed his appreciation for their efforts. “I want to thank all of you who traveled down to North Carolina. You are all heroes in our eyes, and I say thank you on behalf of the borough because we never know when it will be our time in need,” Richards said. “I want to thank all of you… for sacrificing your time away from your families to make sure that somebody you don’t know will have a better path forward as they come through the recovery phase of this storm.”
The DMRT was once again recognized at the MediSys Health Network’s annual gala in November. Members of the team were asked to stand and receive applause from 1,300 event attendees.
The MediSys Health Network has a long history of deploying its Disaster Medical Response Team to assist with catastrophic events, including:
• 1992 – Hurricane Andrew, Homestead FL
• 2001 – World Trade Center, NY, NY
• 2005 – Hurricanes Katrina & Rita, Mississippi & Louisiana
• 2012 – Superstorm Sandy, Rockaway & Howard Beach, NY
• 2020 – Earthquakes, Puerto Rico
• 2022 – Hurricane Ian, Southwest Florida
The network is dedicated to responding to disasters and assisting communities impacted by these challenges.
