IU Physicians Return to Heroes' Homecoming

INDIANAPOLIS - For nearly a week, they worked dangerous, nerve-wracking, round-the-clock shifts in the ruins of lower Manhattan, aiding rescue efforts and recovery efforts in the most deadly terrorist attack ever launched. Today, they and their teammates returned to cheering crowds, hundreds of waving American flags and patriotic music.

Christian C. Strachan, M.D., and Stephanee J. Evers, M.D., Indiana University School of Medicine emergency medicine physicians, are on the Task Force One which was immediately deployed to New York City for search-and-rescue operations after two highjacked jet airliners destroyed the World Trade Center towers.

"It's wonderful to be back," said a tired looking Dr. Evers, standing on the steps of Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis and surrounded by fellow team members. "It was a horrible situation and I wish we could have accomplished more."

Dr. Evers, 26, is a second-year resident in the school's emergency medicine program and does rotations at Methodist Hospital and Wishard Memorial Hospital on the IU Medical Center campus.

Dr. Strachan huddled with family members and friends tightly holding his toddler son, Jacob, and closely following the welcoming ceremonies. "This is just amazing," he said, surveying thousands of well-wishers who turned out for the early afternoon homecoming.

Dr. Strachan is a member of the IU School of Medicine's Emergency medicine department and a physician at Methodist Hospital of Clarian Health, following completion of a five-year, combined emergency medicine/pediatrics residency at I.U. During that time, he attended rescue training with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

They weren't the only IU physicians on the scene at the New York City disaster site. Michael L. Olinger, M.D., assistant professor of emergency medicine and medical director of emergency and medical and ambulance services at IUSM, was in upstate New York at a conference when the attacks occurred in New York City and Washington, D.C. Within hours, Dr. Olinger, a FEMA medical services coordinator, was working alongside rescue workers (see www.medicine.indiana.edu/news_releases/archive_01/ground_zero01.html).

Dr. Olinger was scheduled to return home a few days after Indiana Task Force One's return.

Indiana Task Force One's return could be heard long before it was seen. An Indianapolis Police Department motorcycle escort with wailing sirens led the team's trucks and buses down Meridian Street and onto the circle. Drs. Evers and Strachan immediately blended into an area cordoned off for team members and their families to have private time before the ceremonies.

It wasn't the first time Dr. Strachan, a 1996 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Medicine-Chicago, was pressed into action by FEMA. He and other members of Indiana Task Force One were called up for Hurricane Floyd, which struck the North Carolina coastline in September 1999.

Dr. Evers is an honors graduate of the University of Missouri School of Medicine-Kansas City, where she was active in volunteer and community work. She completed FEMA training before her assignment to Indiana Task Force One. Dr. Evers has a background working in emergency situations; she was an emergency medical technician in Lincoln, Neb.

Dr. Olinger participated in emergency operations in the terrorist bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City and Hurricane Marilyn in 1995, and served as support staff at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. He's also assistant medical director for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indianapolis Racing League.

In their roles as FEMA team members, physicians provide emergency medical care to disaster victims, treat rescue workers and perform health evaluations.

"They went into the jaws of hell and they came back," said the homecoming emcee John Gillis, a helicopter traffic reporter for WIBC-1070 AM, Indianapolis. "We realized what evil there is in the world on September 11 -- but we know there is much more good because of who you are and what you did. You are our heroes."

###

Media Contact: Joe Stuteville
Tel: (317)274-7722
Email: jstutevi@iupui.edu

INDIANA UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

MEDIA
RELATIONS

A STATEWIDE
RESOURCE

Phone
317 274 7722

Fax
317 278 8722