ing in the ER," she says. "As an infec- tious disease consultant who oftentimes is called in cases of sepsis, I am often one of the first people a patient sees." Dr. Desruisseaux says, "She is an in- credible physician. Her knowledge base and warm approach with patients and staff make her a blessing to have around. success in each aspect of her life. She is a loving mother, highly sought-after physician, and top researcher in the nate to have her as a colleague." Medicine to volunteer in a hyperten- sion clinic. "I fell in love with the country. The people are so lovely and so nice, and it was fulfilling for me; I felt like I made a difference," she says. "Here, we take our diagnostic tools for granted--like MRIs and nuclear medicine--and forget the art of taking a patient's history. There, it was back to basics, relying on the clinical skills we first learned in medical school." conditions in a low-income setting. Mahalia is a rare combination." In January 2010, she learned of the deadly earthquake in Haiti, with esti- mates of as many as 300,000 or more lives lost and 1.5 million people dis- placed. Her childhood home, where she spent the first 12 years of her life, was destroyed. An aunt was killed, as well as a cousin and his young son. her knowledge as a physician fluent in Creole. "I felt so sick and helpless watching the 24/7 news coverage," she says. "After not having been back to Haiti for 24 years, I felt a strong urge to return and be part of a medical relief effort." pital in Port-au-Prince, treating patients of all ages who were suffering from broken bones, wound infections, or de- hydration. After returning to New York, she helped organize medical students to gather medical supplies and nonperish- able food for the people of Haiti. T E S Y O H L I A D E S R U I S S E A U X , M ' 0 |