Healthcare Heroes

As COVID-19 continues to spread, healthcare workers across the nation are putting the wellbeing of others before their own. Many of these “healthcare heroes” are members of the EA alumni community. These alumni inspire us with their vigor and selflessness, and through sharing their stories, they give us a small look into what it means to be a healthcare worker during these unprecedented times. To see the full-length features and additional alumni stories, please visit episcopalacademy.org/healthcare-heroes.

Nicole Cannon ‘17

Nursing Student, Drexel University Surgical Trauma Unit Nurse Extern, Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Nikki was inspired to become a nurse after watching her grandfather suffer through complications from uncontrolled diabetes in the final years of his life. While she is currently overseen by a registered nurse doing routine patient care assignments, she knows that the warmth of a friendly face in the hospital can make a world of difference to a patient, especially one who is isolated from friends and family in the current healthcare environment. When we spoke to Nikki in April, Jefferson, like many hospitals, was not allowing any patients to have visitors. “This is very challenging for many patients as they may feel lonely and socially isolated,” Nikki shared, “Keeping these patients company, taking the time to talk to them, and getting them in contact with their family members and other loved ones really improves their time in the hospital.” While many of us have been able to quarantine at home with family, many healthcare workers cannot. Part of staying safe for Nikki means eliminating face-to-face interactions with her loved ones while she’s working in the hospital and living in a one-bedroom apartment on Drexel’s campus. “When I come home from work, I immediately shower, wash my scrubs, leave my work shoes by the front door, and wipe down any materials I had at work with me with disinfectant (phone, ID badge, pen, etc.).” She is grateful that she has technology to help her keep connected with her family and friends.

David F. Friedman, MD '75

Pediatric hematologist-oncologist, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)

In his clinical role as the associate director of transfusion, David performs exchange transfusions and cell collections for his pediatric oncology patients, services that cannot be postponed or canceled due to the pandemic. Luckily, CHOP has not experienced the same shortages of other hospitals in the region. “Thankfully, children are less severely affected than adults,” said David. “CHOP has not been overwhelmed or even highly stressed by the onslaught of sick patients that adult hospitals are seeing.” David had the following message for the EA community. “If you are a person who knows they had COVID-19 infection, has recovered, and could otherwise be a blood donor, you should consider donating.” The antibodies in the blood of recovered patients have begun to be used by doctors to fight the virus in current COVID-19 patients. To learn more, you can fill out a Donor Eligibility Form on the American Red Cross website.

J. Robert Williams, Jr., MD ‘72

Consulting Physician, Infectious Diseases, Jefferson Health New Jersey

From mid-March through the end of May, Robert cared for patients in intensive care units that were full of COVID-19 patients. As a resident in Thomas Jefferson University’s Internal Medicine program, he saw his first HIV case in 1982. “At that time, we didn’t know what it was and had no idea how to treat it,” he said. Decades later, the present COVID-19 pandemic reminds him a bit of the HIV/ AIDS epidemic. “In those early years, we often felt helpless and confused like we sometimes do today,” he shared. “Clinical studies are scarce and information is primarily observational right now. We often find ourselves trying things out of sheer desperation.” Robert—like all health care providers this past spring—was stunned at the ineffectiveness of many standard treatments to provide any relief for his patients who entered into complete respiratory failure. “My advice to everyone is to respect this illness.” he said. “It catches you off guard and can be very lethal.” Robert and other health experts attribute the summer decrease in COVID-19 cases and deaths in our area to the many sacrifices each of us has made and continues to make. “People’s lives have turned upside down, some lost jobs and businesses while trying to prevent the spread of infection,” he said, “They are the true heroes in this pandemic, the ones who protect their fellow citizens.”

Jeffrey Kuch, MD ‘66

Primary care physician, Veterans Affairs Clinic in North Carolina

Jeff typically sees many geriatric patients; however, the coronavirus pandemic has made it more difficult to conduct this ongoing primary care. “Half my patients are over 65,” Jeff shared. “They are sheltering in place.” Jeff and his colleagues no longer see most of their routine patients in person. The VA has been encouraging patients with existing routine appointments to use the VA appointments tool to request a telehealth appointment online. But as immune-compromised veterans have expressed fear of going to the VA for care at this time, the VA is also encouraging patients who need urgent care not to delay seeking treatment. Concerns have begun to emerge that treatment delays and postponed preventative care have already impacted the health of older Americans. This past spring, when patients needed to be seen in-person at the Clinic, Jeff and his colleagues utilized a triage tent to screen them for COVID-19 symptoms, and if COVID-19 was suspected, the patients were examined in their cars. With his family visiting and businesses closed, the extra family time has been the silver lining for Jeff. “There has been plenty of evening and weekend time for projects. I really love what I do and intend to keep going as long as I can help my patients,” he said.

Loren Mead, MD ‘08

Resident Physician, Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and President, Abaton

Since March, Loren has been treating COVID patients and training alongside physicians in the emergency room and intensive care unit. Witnessing his colleagues’ hard work and dedication to their patients—while putting their own health at risk—he was moved to co-found a nonprofit, Abaton, with the mission to protect health care workers and first responders in low resource settings. Since the pandemic began in March, prices for N-95 masks and other PPE have sky-rocketed. Using open-source technologies, Loren and his colleagues have developed disinfection devices, such as the Arca, which received emergency use authorization by the FDA. The Acra uses aerosolized hydrogen peroxide to clean PPE at 1/60th the cost of commercially available products. Abaton is working to continue to expand access to PPE disinfection technologies to rural and low-resource communities, community hospitals, nursing facilities, and first responders. “The outpouring of support Abaton has received has been heartwarming during an otherwise tumultuous year,” shared Loren. “I am grateful to the numerous EA alumni who have already given donations to help our mission to protect frontline workers.”

Gregory D. Snyder, MD, MBA '05

Attending Physician, General Internal Medicine, Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Massachusetts

While Greg is currently providing care for COVID-19 patients who may require intensive care and ventilation, his expertise in telehealth has also enabled him to work toward keeping as many patients as possible out of the hospital. “I am designing a COVID strategy for a company called Medically Home that provides acute, inpatient-level care in people’s homes,” he shared. “Now more than ever, this is top-of-mind for patients and providers.” For Greg, this pandemic has brought into focus how delicate and fragile our globalized ecosystem has become and how it has forced young people to have an understanding of the role they play in public health. The pandemic “highlights how individual actions lead directly or indirectly to health outcomes for others,” Greg said. “My age cohort may not feel as ill as others will with COVID-19— although we are seeing cases of many young patients with severe disease— but our actions directly or indirectly affect our parents and grandparents.” Greg is prouder now than ever before to be a doctor and to work alongside his courageous colleagues. “COVID-19 has tested and will continue to test everyone in unfortunate ways, but I truly believe that there is a reason for optimism despite terrible events. My personal life has demonstrated this to me, as has my professional life. I look forward to continuing to care for patients, together with the families and loved ones they are so fortunate to have, as we go through this event together.”

Jon Stallkamp, MD ‘92 P ‘24

Regional Vice President of Medical Affairs for Main Line Health, Bryn Mawr Hospital and Lankenau Medical Center

Jon is currently one of three physicians who rotate as the incident commander for Main Line Health’s COVID-19 response. In this role, he leads a team of 12 who coordinate the health system’s logistics, source personal protective equipment (PPE), set infectious disease policies, make modifications to electronic health records, deploy technology to help patients keep in touch with loved ones, streamline processes, educate staff, and help care for and manage the health of employees who test positive for the virus. “Your heartfelt gratitude has been the greatest type of support we have received,” Jon said, “But, one other thing I would ask is that if you can, please support your local hospital.” While hospitals are pouring resources into the fight against COVID-19, they are losing revenue from procedures and patient visits that have had to be canceled or postponed to make room for COVID-19 patients. “All hospitals around the country have lost a huge part of their income stream,” he said. “While the government has offered some support, it will never make up for what has been lost.” That being the case, his team has not been discouraged. In fact, they have been more devoted than ever. “I am incredibly inspired by my fellow healthcare workers who continually put themselves in harm’s way to help care for others during this very difficult time. When I see so much caring and amazing work provided by everyone—from the bedside nurse to the environmental service worker to the physician—it reinforces why I picked medicine as a career,” Jon said.

Alexandra Hahn, MD '09

General Surgery Resident, Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana

In late March, COVID-19 cases were rising faster in Louisiana than anywhere else in the world. Within days of admitting their first coronavirus patient at Ochsner, Allie's daily life changed dramatically. Allie and her other fellow residents were quickly transitioned to the 100 new ICU beds and tasked with caring for COVID patients for a week at a time. As surgical residents, she said, they were somewhat prepared for the transition given their extensive surgical ICU experience. But, "caring for these patients is quite different than caring for our traditional post-surgical ICU patients," she said. Despite being mentally and physically drained, Allie continued to feel incredibly blessed. "I'm so fortunate to be surrounded by so many incredible doctors, amazing and tireless nurses, fearless respiratory therapists, and all of the people who have stepped up and out of their traditional line of work to serve however the hospital needed," she said. "I have been nothing but impressed and proud of my co-residents and friends. As always, this community has come together— even in a time when we cannot be physically close—and found ways to support each other."