A group of physicians and nurses who care for patients at Central Baptist Hospital is among a team of medical professionals who will spend two weeks caring for tsunami victims thousands of miles away.

Four physicians and several nurses from central Kentucky will travel to southeast India (near the town of Trivandrum) from Jan. 29-Feb. 12 to provide medical care and assistance to tsunami victims. Participating in the trip are: Bill Harris, M.D., cardiologist; John Meek, M.D., infectious disease specialist; John Walker, D.O., neonatologist; Robert Salley, cardiothoracic surgeon; Elaine Elam, R.N.; Kay Price, R.N., M.N.; and Karen Newman, R.N. Christ Community Ministries is organizing the trip. Dr. Harris has made two medical mission trips with this group. Central Baptist is sponsoring two of the nurses who are joining the trip.

Dr. Harris has formed a non-profit organization called Helping through Healing, which has placed a $15,000 deposit on an ambulance that will house medical supplies and will provide the team with a base from which to work.

Central Baptist and Helping through Healing are also working with a group called Supplies Over Seas (SOS) to provide medical supplies for the trip. SOS harvests local medical supplies for international humanitarian aid. SOS staff and volunteers gather supplies and equipment from hospitals, doctors’ offices, medical organizations and facilities, and from private residences. These items are sent to countries where they are desperately needed, and local medical facilities potentially save thousands of dollars by eliminating costly disposal procedures required by law.

To participate in this effort, send donations to:

Helping Through Healing

c/o Paramount Bank

2424 Harrodsburg Road, Suite 100

Lexington, KY  40504

Central Baptist Hospital Foundation

Tsunami Relief

1740 Nicholasville Road

Lexington, KY  40503