Andy Davidson in Haiti
Andy Davidson is the president and CEO of the Oregon Association of Hospital and Health Systems (OAHHS). Davidson is an expert in health logistics and operations in diverse health care delivery settings. In addition, OAHHS, and its counterpart, the Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA), has committed to raise more than $560,000 in cash and medicines to help Medical Teams International respond to the Haiti crisis
Following are excerpts from Andy's personal blog:
Why Me... And Not Him?
February 3, 2010 | Wednesday
Of the 26 passengers on my flight, 17 were orphaned children on their way to their new adoptive parents in the US. The kids were escorted by two Americans. Looking onto their eyes through my own haze of 10 days on the ground, I saw fear, elation and confusion. But I also saw that under almost any circumstance, kids will be kids — as one of the Air Force crew members passed out Blow-Pops and chips to 17 excited hands...
As with many things on this trip, a wave of emotion swept over me thinking about what the kids and parents have gone through to get them to this point. Lives forever changed.
It was that emotion that lead me into the terminal at 4:15 am and up to the Dollar rental car counter where I got a car on the spot and drove 3 hours to visit my own parents who are on Anna Maria Island, south of Tampa. It was a poignant visit for me, fueled with the knowledge of just how lucky some of us truly are. More...
30 January, 2010 09:05
January 30, 2010 | Saturday
When you travel 30-40 kilometers seeing destroyed building after destroyed building, you begin to realize how the current death toll estimates are so high. Thousands of structures pancaked. Forever tombs for the unsuspecting. I found myself trying not to look too hard for signs of death. But that didn’t work too well. They were everywhere. I’ve attached a picture of a school that collapsed. I climbed through the rubble to look into what was the ground floor. A classroom for sure as I saw the remnants of chalkboards and desks. The good news is that the quake hit at just before 5 pm so the kids were out, but they suspect some staff were still inside at that time. More...
The Dancing Orphans
January 28, 2010 | Thursday
I want to thank all of you who are following the situation via this blog. Most importantly I want to again thank all of the hospital leaders and their staffs in Oregon and Washington who so quickly stepped up to aid the Haitian people. I am seeing the direct impact of your financial contributions and have watched the medications and supplies you so graciously donated being administered every hour of every day. More...
Day 4: When You Think It's Getting Better
January 24, 2010 | Sunday
I do believe that life’s priorities are shifting for me. I am running a surgical hospital in the midst of a war zone. Ive never run a hospital or been in a war. SO why not check both off at the same time? I reflected last night that I am NOT sweating the small stuff. If I did I would not make it or the people around me would be really miserable. I hope I can carry this part of Haiti home with me. More...
Day 3: A Glimmer of Hope Amidst the Chaos
January 23, 2010 | Saturday
I am ragged, dirty and having a blast. While I have not slept much for the last 5 nights, I am energized not exhausted. Despite the majority of experiences being absolutely heartbreaking, I am mentally focused on the moments of greatness rather than the moments of despair.and there are many. More...
Day 1: A World Forever Changed
January 21, 2010 | Thursday
I was drafted this evening to serve as the administrator of Kings Hospital. I was honored to be asked. Working with Dan Diamond, emergency doc extraordinaire from Bremerton, WA, we’ve developed an org chart and tomorrow I will brief staff and develop job descriptions. Our goal is to develop an org structure that will transcend the eventual departure of MTI in a few months. The Haitian doc who owns the hospital is like no one I’ve ever met. She is so thankful for thinking about how to integrate our needs today while leaving a legacy for her organization long term. More...