Dr. Wendy Lin CdeP 1990 takes on “whatever hits the door”

8/28/2020

Working in the emergency room at Cedar-Sinai Medical Center requires rapid adjustments to meet ever-changing situations.

For Wendy Lin CdeP 1990, an emergency medicine physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, the fast pace and always-shifting challenges of emergency medicine were what originally drew her to this work. She always knew she wanted to be the kind of doctor who could spring into action if someone called out “Is there a doctor in the room?” This attitude—being ready and willing to take on whatever comes her way—has been essential in navigating the spread of covid-19.

She and her colleagues have had to rapidly adjust their protocols and workflows, including designating special “covid zones” within the hospital, layering extra personal protective equipment (PPE) like N95 masks, surgical masks, and eye protection, and taking additional precautions with trauma patients or patients requiring invasive procedures.

Early on, the lack of clear guidance from health officials, the constant flow of new information about the virus, and worries about insufficient PPE supplies made her work particularly challenging. Acts of gratitude and kindness from the community have made a huge difference to her and her colleagues, however. Volunteers donated hot meals to workers on the frontlines during an early spike of the virus in LA and many in the area have stepped up to donate additional PPE. Her facility received so many PPE donations, in fact, that they were able to pass some on to other facilities that were still short. Though her guard continues to be up each day with more work to be done in combating the virus, she says she and her colleagues “take on whatever hits our doors and do our best.”

We are proud to continue sharing stories of Thacher community members working to help those around them in the face of covid-19. Thanks for following along. #thebestwecando #pegasusproject

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Dr. Wendy Lin CdeP 1990 takes on “whatever hits the door”

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