title: Transformation in Haiti: finding purpose while responding to disaster.
abstract: This is a human interest story and update on the current state of healthcare and earthquake recovery in Haiti. This is drawn from experiences the author has gained through disaster response after the 7.0 earthquake and in returning to Haiti as a medical volunteer in October 2010. What has been accomplished in the last year since the earthquake and the challenges that lay ahead for the Haitian people are addressed through personal experiences with patients, American volunteers, and local healthcare staff. The experience of being a medical volunteer in Port au Prince, Haiti, is portrayed through the surrounding environment, interactions with patients and fellow volunteers, and the resulting emotional and psychological impact. This piece culminates with the impression such volunteer work has left on the author and how it has been life-changing.
authors.affiliation: Mammoth Hospital Post Anesthesia Care Unit, Mammoth Lakes, CA, USA. etwells@gmail.com
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wells
mesh_terms: D004190:Disasters; D055866:Earthquakes; D006205:Haiti; D006801:Humans; D014481:United States; D014838:Volunteers / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology