January 14, 2005

MGHers rally together to help tsunami survivors

Hasan Bazari, MD, of the MGH Department of Medicine, is one of the lucky ones. Hailing from a coastal village near the Indian Ocean, Bazari is one of many Americans who come from that part of the world hit by the recent tsunami, watching the news coverage with great sadness. Fortunately, Bazari's family is safe and sound. His village of Athiyuthu in South India was shielded from the tsunami because it is situated just across a bay from Sri Lanka, one of the countries hardest hit by the horrific waves.

Bazari recently spoke to his brother who still lives in Athiyuthu. Bazari's family and others from the village are helping to raise money to support their neighbors, who still are reeling from the tsunami's devastation. "I am fortunate. My family could have easily been wiped out by the tsunami, but they were spared because of their location," he says.

Like others in the MGH community who have been affected by this international disaster, Bazari has a tremendous desire to reach out and help the tsunami survivors in a meaningful way. Bazari is joining with members of MGH leadership and others to evaluate how the MGH community can most effectively help those who have suffered from this overwhelming tragedy.

"I'm touched by how many people in the MGH community want to do something to help," says Bazari.

The MGH has established a special fund to assist the tsunami relief efforts by contributing much-needed money to major relief organizations that currently are providing aid to that region. An MGH committee is being formed to evaluate the best way to distribute the money from this fund. Committee members include Bazari, David Torchiana, MD, chair and CEO of the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization; Jeanette Ives Erickson, RN, MS, senior vice president for Patient Care Services and chief nurse, Peter Kelsey, MD, of the MGH Gastrointestinal Unit, Larry Ronan, MD, director of the MGH Durant Fellowship program, and John Godine, MD, of the MGH Diabetes Center.

"We realize that many members of the MGH community have already made a contribution to the tsunami relief efforts," says Torchiana. "Through establishing this fund at the MGH, we are trying to further encourage anyone who wants to donate and make it as simple as possible to do so."

To make a contribution to the MGH Tsunami Relief Fund, visit http://is.partners.org/mghintranet/tsunami/index.htm.