Doctors from Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair recognized for pandemic work
Two South Hills physicians have received medals for their work on the front lines of the covid-19 pandemic.
Dr. Tim Campbell of Bethel Park and Dr. Frank Gaudio of Upper St. Clair deployed multiple times in response to outbreaks around the country as part of their work with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Disaster Medical Assistance Team. The doctors are part of the DMAT PA-1 Strike Team.
The department presented the doctors the national COVID-19 Pandemic Civilian Service Award.
“I think we’re all hard-wired to help out. When people are distressed, you want to help and there’s an incredible sense of gratification when you’re able to do that,” said Campbell, who also serves as a councilman for Bethel Park.
The doctors saw their first deployment soon after the pandemic began in the United States, when they were tasked with treating patients who became infected on the Diamond Princess, a luxury cruise ship that was the site of one of the first major outbreaks.
Throughout 2020 and 2021, Campbell estimates he and Gaudio were deployed at least a dozen times, to border hospitals in the Southwest and overwhelmed medical facilities in Maine, California and elsewhere. Most of their missions involved hospital decompressions, where the DMAT responders set up temporary facilities to ease overcrowding in emergency rooms and intensive care units.
Disaster medical assistance teams typically respond to hurricanes and other natural disasters. Responding to covid brought a unique set of challenges because at times, it seemed like there wasn’t an end in sight, Campbell said. The doctors learned a lot too and brought some of that knowledge back to Pittsburgh, introducing more effective treatments and preventative measures in the fight against covid.
A typical DMAT includes doctors, nurses, other medical professionals as well as logistical experts who can set up communication networks and other infrastructure.
For more information, visit aspr.hhs.gov/NDMS/Pages/dmat.aspx.
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