Four physicians from LA Health Services deployed to Turkey at the request of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to serve as medical team managers providing critical care to victims of the historic 7.8 magnitude earthquake and its aftershocks
The Los Angeles Health Services Department (LA Health Services), the second largest public health system in the United States, was honored to join the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in its humanitarian response in Turkey following the devastating earthquake of February 5, 2023, and its aftershocks.
As part of these efforts, four physicians from LA Health Services joined a 77-member team led by the Los Angeles County Fire Department and including the Department of Public Works, to serve as medical team managers providing life-saving care to earthquake victims. The team arrived in Turkey on Wednesday, February 8 and returned on February 20th.
“Our physicians from LA Health Services are some of the best, most experienced doctors in the world, particularly in the field of emergency care,” said Dr. Christina Ghaly, Director, LA Health Services. “Our agency is honored to have been called upon to join this humanitarian mission and we are tremendously proud of our colleagues who have selflessly put themselves forward to serve as medical team managers in Turkey. At LA Health Services, our mission is to care for those in need, regardless of circumstance, and I can think of no greater example of how our team embodies this mission than through the actions of our physicians who have volunteered to save lives in Turkey.”
For additional information, please inquire at media@dhs.lacounty.gov.
