July 29, 2005

White House honors Project HOPE volunteers

"Massachusetts is very proud of the MGH and the extraordinary health professionals being honored," said Sen. Edward Kennedy in response to the White House recognition of the tsunami relief volunteers with Project HOPE, including the more than 60 doctors, nurses, social workers and registered dieticians from the MGH. "Their dedication and caring have served America and the world well."

At a July 21 event on the south lawn of the White House, President George W. Bush thanked the volunteers from the MGH and 36 other states — all part of Project HOPE — for helping the victims throughout Southeast Asia following the tsunami in December and the earthquake in March.

The Project HOPE volunteers along with the US Navy's Operation Unified Assistance evaluated and treated more than 49,500 patients and performed more than 97,000 medical procedures onshore and aboard the hospital ship, the USNS Mercy, in the months following the disasters.