Sunday, January 16, 2005

LEXINGTON (AP) A team of doctors and nurses from Kentucky will go to India later this month to provide medical care for tsunami victims.

The group will work in about five villages around Trivandrum, at the southern tip of India, from Jan. 29 to Feb. 12. Most of the health-care professionals are affiliated with Central Baptist Hospital.

Well work from daylight to dark, seeing as many people as we can, said Dr. Bill Harris, a cardiologist with Cardiology Associates of Kentucky and the medical director of the Baptist Heart & Vascular Institute at Central Baptist.

The group will visit in cooperation with Christian Community Ministries, a mission run by a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore.

Harris has been to India twice before to work with Christian Community Ministries.

We feel this is an area that has not gotten the same amount of attention as other parts of south Asia ravaged by the tsunami, Harris said. There are always people who fall between the cracks.

Dr. Robert Salley, a cardiothoracic surgeon with Cardiac Surgical Associates, also is a veteran of medical mission trips abroad, including several to Ecuador.

In large measure why Ive become a physician is to reach out and help people in need, Salley said.

In addition to Harris and Salley, the team will include:

Dr. John Meek, an infectious diseases specialist with Lexington Infectious Disease Consultants.

Dr. John Walker, a neonatologist with Pediatrix Medical Group of Kentucky who has previously gone on a medical mission to northeast India.

Kay Price, a registered nurse with 26 years of experience who makes annual trips to Africa to provide medical care in rural southeastern Nigeria.

Elaine Elam, a registered nurse for 28 years, including 16 years as an emergency room nurse. She has made two medical mission trips to Haiti.

Carla Zacker, a registered nurse in the Heart Institute Cath Lab at St. Joseph Health Care.

Karen Newman, a registered nurse and vice president of nursing at Baptist Hospital East in Louisville. She has gone to India before on a medical mission.

The doctors, all of whom have private practices, will pay all costs for their two-week trip.

The nurses salaries, round-trip plane fares and expenses will be paid by their respective hospitals.  Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700