Alumni Fighting For Haiti
Ready for some Fighting Irish surgery? Long time veteran Haiti Program volunteer and orthopedic surgeon Kevin Olehnik (Notre Dame Class of '78) and Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport, Maine have brought Jean Joseph Junior to the United States for reconstructive hip surgery. Kevin has had an active medical leadership role in our program for years, but when the earthquake hit Haiti in January, his gifts were in demand beyond comprehension. Kevin was one of the first volunteers to go to our hard hit home of Leogane and address the overwhelming need. Now, ten months and two trips later, Kevin and colleague surgeon Rich Beauchesne, MD are operating in Maine on one of our dearest colleagues from Haiti, because the medical conditions in that country could not support this operation. Pictured above is Junior and fellow Haiti Program veteran Doug Cole, MD, smiling for the camera before the October 27th surgery.
Below, Kevin and Doug watch from the sidelines at the Notre Dame vs. Pittsburgh home football game on October 9, 2010, when Notre Dame alumni and friends were recognized for their heroic effort in saving thousands of lives in Leogane. While an estimated 300,000 lives were lost in the catastrophe, the University celebrated and honored the thousands that were saved in the aftermath of the earthquake thanks to our existing dedication to public health in Haiti over 17 years and the gallant effort of alumni and the Notre Dame family.
