Holy Name Press Releases

Holy Name Physicians Head to Haiti

January 20, 2010

Two Holy Name Hospital anesthesiologists, Alan Gwertzman, M.D., Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology and Timothy Finley M.D will be arriving in Haiti this week to provide medical care.  A member of the Center for the Rural Development of Milo (Crudem) Foundation, Dr. Finley will be arriving first at the Hospital Sacre Coeur, a 66-bed hospital, which is currently set up to treat 200 patients and is located an estimated 65 miles north of Port Au Prince.

According to David Butler, M.D., Holy Name obstetrician/gynecologist and Vice President of the Crudem Foundation, there are currently 15 American medical volunteers and 21 Haitian doctors at the hospital and it is fully functional, however, there are no anesthesiologists.  "I immediately thought of Dr. Finley, who has accompanied me on various missions to Haiti and Dr. Gwertzman," explains Dr. Butler.  "They both accepted without any hesitation."  Unfortunately, due to obstacles related to traveling to Haiti at this time, it has taken three days to arrange the physicians' departure.  Dr. Finley is en route and Dr. Gwertzman is expected to follow within 24 hours.  "Space on the plane is premium," said Dr. Butler.  "It is very, very tricky to get there, but we will get the doctors there."

Dr. Finley and Dr. Gwertzman will be bringing medical supplies for both pediatric and adult patients, including anesthesia supplies, pain medications, antibioticsthey will be equipped to handle anything.   In addition to donating medical supplies, Holy Name will be donating 1,700 scrub uniforms.  The Hospital will also afford its employees the opportunity to make a monetary donation to a special Haiti Crisis Fund organized through the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Peace.

"The commitment to provide medical care in Haiti is long term," explains Dr. Finley, who has been on seven missions already in Haiti.   "Holy Name Hospital and the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Peace continually lend support."  There are three Sisters based out of Haiti a midwife, an English-as-a-Second-Language teacher and a provider of spiritual guidance and ministry.

Upon arrival in Haiti, Dr. Finley will assess the situation and report back to Dr. Gwertzman, Dr. Butler, and Michael Maron, President and Chief Executive Officer of Holy Name Hospital.

"This effort is a joint effort between Holy Name, Bergen Anesthesia and the Crudem Foundation," noted Dr. Gwertzman. "I am privileged to be a part of this collaboration."