Dr. Kent Garman, a Half Moon Bay resident, has founded a local division of the Medical Reserve Corps, a federal organization of doctors, nurses, and medical professionals who would spring into action should a disaster strike.
During the rescue efforts in Louisiana, Garman, who is president of Stanford University Hospital medical staff, attempted to organize a group of physicians to go to Louisiana to help in any way possible. Eighty-five doctors volunteered to go in the first two days alone. But Garman was frustrated by the lack of organization to facilitate such a rapid mobilization. The trip was scrapped.
 Dr. Kent Garman |
Garman realized that much of the Coastside could be cut off from the rest of San Mateo County, including the major local hospitals such as Stanford Medical Center, in the wake of an earthquake. He also realized that it wouldn't take much for local emergency services to be quickly overwhelmed by a catastrophe.
The Medical Reserve Corps was created in the wake of the September 11 attacks, and sought to seize upon the outpouring of support from the medical community. It's a strictly volunteer organization that trains medical professionals to supplement local emergency services during a disaster.
Garman has already received support from Seton Medical Center Coastside, the Coastside Family Medical Center, and the Half Moon Bay Fire Protection District.
"I've got to commend him for stepping up and putting this together," said Fire Chief Jim Asche. "It's one of the things on the coast that's always concerned us. The reality is that if there is a regional disaster there's a very good possibility that the emergency medical services will be overwhelmed so whatever we can do to mitigate that is positive."
Garman said he's searching for about 50 volunteers, including physicians and nurses. He only received federal approval for the new chapter last month and has barely begun the initial recruiting process.
"I've already had a couple of people who have just stumbled onto the Web site and called me for applications," Garman said.
Asche said that the community was fortunate to have someone with Garman's background to orchestrate such an effort. After completing medical school at Temple University, Garman served as a Naval Flight Surgeon in Vietnam.
"In 2001 FEMA predicted the three most likely catastrophes that might hit the United States were a terrorist attack in New York, a hurricane in New Orleans and a major earthquake in California along the San Andreas fault," Garman said, illustrating how important he feels local preparation is.
Garman said that he hopes to begin the training phase of the project before the end of the year. For more information about the new local chapter of the Medical Reserve Corps, including application forms, visit homepage.mac.com/jkgarman/index.htm.
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