Tuesday, August 4, 2009. Having arrived in Denver for my pre-deployment orientation and meetings, I boarded the shuttle from the Staybridge Inn to Raytheon Polar. We arrived at 7:15 am and, surprise! We couldn’t get in, since the security person that had to “badge” us doesn’t arrive until 7:30. However, this gave me time to talk with Daisy Hoffert, our PA for the summer season. She’s now working at a prison and previously worked in EDs and ICUs.
Today was a chance to not only to get a series of very interesting flight medicine/MedEvac talks by Maj. Greg Richert, our chief flight physician, but also to obtain more information about the Pole than I had been able to previously get. He has been there for 3 years in a row. 
So has Tara Stoddard, who is our civilian flight nurse. (Daisy, right above, our PA is with Tara demonstrating the earplugs we were given.) Great folks!We also had some small meetings with Greg, Doug Freer (below, left, a just-about-retired Navy Captain) who is the Raytheon’s polar Medical Director, and Leeanne Stringer (below), our New Zealand nurse contact for evacuations to and treatments in Christchurch. We had lots of discussions about preventing and dealing with flu, especially H1N1, for which we don’t have a vaccine as of yet. These would continue the entire time I was in Denver, with continual flu plan revisions as more information became available through the CDC.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009 This morning our group toured the insides of a C-17 and had the crew clarify some patient-transport procedures. They proved to be much easier to understand once we saw the plane and equipment. I’ll rarely have to be involved 
in loading these patients; it will be a very unusual situation for me to fly with them. I am the last 
bastion of medical care at McMurdo, so this won’t really be part of my duties. However, preparing the patients for transport will be.
We had weekly conference calls with Palmer Station (opposite Punta Arenas, Chile and Ushuaia, Argentina), the South Pole station, and McMurdo. Kind of unbelievable that we’re talking with folks in Antarctica!
Over the weekend, Mary Lou and I had a great mini-vacation to Golden, Colorado. I’m not a train nut, but their railroad museum provides a restful stroll among lots of vintage rolling stock—and a short trip aboard a steam-locomotive-driven train. While there, I got scalped (a #2 clipper at my instruction) in an old-fashioned barber
shop on the main street. My barber was 80-years old and still a sharp guy who sold tickets to football games on the side. (No, he wasn’t a bookie.)
in loading these patients; it will be a very unusual situation for me to fly with them. I am the last 
bastion of medical care at McMurdo, so this won’t really be part of my duties. However, preparing the patients for transport will be.I had dinner with Gerry Katz, a very smart internist/hospitalist who has served as medical 
director for and consultant to the program for about 20 years. He provided lots of insights on the program and my duties on the Ice.
Thursday, August 6 through Friday, August 14, 2009: Lots of reviewing protocols and employee-applicant medical charts. I’m now part of the “PQ” process. That means physically qualified for
deployment to Antarctica. The requirements are rather strict, but lots of people apply for medical waivers. Some of them have significant medical problems. The question then is, do we give them a medical waiver? Three of us review the charts, generally independently. The medical director then makes a recommendation and passes it on to the NSF medical director.
director for and consultant to the program for about 20 years. He provided lots of insights on the program and my duties on the Ice.Thursday, August 6 through Friday, August 14, 2009: Lots of reviewing protocols and employee-applicant medical charts. I’m now part of the “PQ” process. That means physically qualified for
deployment to Antarctica. The requirements are rather strict, but lots of people apply for medical waivers. Some of them have significant medical problems. The question then is, do we give them a medical waiver? Three of us review the charts, generally independently. The medical director then makes a recommendation and passes it on to the NSF medical director.We had weekly conference calls with Palmer Station (opposite Punta Arenas, Chile and Ushuaia, Argentina), the South Pole station, and McMurdo. Kind of unbelievable that we’re talking with folks in Antarctica!
Over the weekend, Mary Lou and I had a great mini-vacation to Golden, Colorado. I’m not a train nut, but their railroad museum provides a restful stroll among lots of vintage rolling stock—and a short trip aboard a steam-locomotive-driven train. While there, I got scalped (a #2 clipper at my instruction) in an old-fashioned barber
shop on the main street. My barber was 80-years old and still a sharp guy who sold tickets to football games on the side. (No, he wasn’t a bookie.)We then had dinner with two physicians who were my residents in the first and second classes at the University of Arizona: Rick Dart and Katie Hurlbut. They’re married with 3 girls, a great home, and top-notch academic jobs. Rick has long been the director of the Rocky Mountain Poison Control Center. Katie continues on faculty at Denver General Emergency Medicine residency program.
On Sunday we visited the Denver Zoo and their Natural History Museum. (Do you know why there won't be any more bear photos until after I leave Antarctica? Of course, there are no bears of any kind there!) Compared with what we have seen in DC, Chicago and els
ewhere, they leave a lot to be desired.
ewhere, they leave a lot to be desired.The second week was much like the first, except that I had meetings with a number of folks who will direct areas I have to deal with on the Ice. A highlight was that Mary Lou and I had dinner with Gerry Katz and his fiancé, Deidre. Excellent food and hospitality!
This weekend, orientation--and travel to Christchurch on the way to the Ice!
