COM Outlook Spring 2019

12 | DR. KIRAN C. PATEL COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE technician at Northwest Medical Center in Margate, Florida, for almost two years. “Thankfully, I had kept my emergency medical technician certification current, which gave me the opportunity to join Team Rubicon in September 2017.” Because Quinones-Medina was not yet a KPCOM student physician when he assisted with Hurricane Maria relief efforts in Puerto Rico, he was willingly deployed to the island three times, spending almost two months providing medical care and assisting with the cleanup efforts. When Hurricane Michael—a fierce Cate- gory 4 storm—blasted ashore in the Florida Panhandle, Quinones-Medina immediately took time from his KPCOM studies to lend a helping hand. “It is hard to imagine what people are going through until you witness the deva- station firsthand,” said Quinones-Medina, who volunteered nearly 100 hours of direct lifesaving community service to affected areas. “Some people lost their homes and belongings, while others died because emergency services could not navigate the treacherous road conditions,” he noted. “Disasters seem to be getting worse,” Quinones-Medina added. “We need to come together as a nation and develop innovative, cost-effective post-disaster programs to help survivors get back on their feet quickly.” Although Quinones-Medina said he was always interested in the emergency medicine field, he did not decide to focus on it as a career choice and pursue his M.S. in Disaster and Emergency Management until he was deployed to Puerto Rico. “I thrive in a fast-paced environment where critical decisions need to be made Right: Gabriel Quinones-Medina provides chainsaw instruction to Team Rubicon volunteers. Below: Cutting and clearing downed trees in the Florida Panhandle was a priority for Quinones-Medina. HURRICANE HELP