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COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014
Alumni Corner -
Activities, Accomplishments, and Awards
the Airbus A320 when the plane’s
engines lost thrust following a bird
strike. At the time, Dr. Panero was a
fourth-year NSU-COM student who
used his medical training to assist in-
jured passengers and help them safely
exit the plane. Today, he is a physical
medicine and rehabilitation physi-
cian in Sacramento, California, who
is wholeheartedly devoted to helping
patients recover from injuries.
Dr. Panero surprised Sullenberger
at NSU’s undergraduate commence-
ment ceremonies on May 10 by
introducing and thanking his hero for
saving his life. “One thing I learned
through the experience of being on
that plane that day is that sometimes
in life you will encounter individuals
Dr. Alberto Panero Reunites with
Miracle on the Hudson
Pilot at NSU Undergraduate Commencement Ceremonies
T
he date January 15, 2009, will
forever be etched in the minds
of Chesley B. (Sully) Sullenberg-
er III and the 155 people whose lives
he saved when he and his crew safely
guided U.S. Airways Flight 1549 to an
emergency water landing in New York
City’s frigid Hudson River.
As a result, the
Miracle on the
Hudson
became a defining moment in
history, with Sullenberger becoming
an international hero. He has since
dedicated his career to improving
airline safety, but Sullenberger is not
the only one who survived that fateful
event to focus on saving and improv-
ing the lives of others.
Alberto Panero, D.O., a 2009 NSU-
COM alumnus, was a passenger on
that, even for the briefest of moments,
have the ability to profoundly impact
your life,” said Dr. Panero, who had
not seen Sullenberger since 2009.
“This would be the obvious under-
statement when referring to the brief
yet undeniably powerful impact Cap-
tain Sullenberger has had on my life,”
he added. “Because of the gifted skills
he had as a pilot, I am able to use the
skills I developed through my educa-
tion and training from Nova Southeast-
ern University to directly impact lives.”
When it came time for Sullenberger
to speak, he joked, “Who knew that
on January 15, 2009, there would be
a shark in the Hudson River?” he said,
referring to the NSU mascot as the
crowd laughed and cheered.
Dr. Panero (left) during his heartfelt
reunion with Sullenberger.
