July 6 - USNS Richard Byrd Update

This is an excerpt from a Project HOPE e-mail concerning student John Hammill:

Regarding the subject of the email, I wanted to pass along an update on John Hammill. I received a satellite phone call from his preceptor, Dr. John Nett, and all is going very, very well. The most important thing he wanted to emphasize was how impressed he is with John and how thrilled he is to have him for a student. It sounds like they are working out very well together and, if things continue on course, should be a great experience for all. You have provided us with excellent students (as I'm sure they all are!).

As you may know, the "Johns" and one Navy pharm tech are the only pharmacy specialists on the mission, so they are really the subject matter experts on board and are being leaned on heavily, which is a very good thing. The team has been working ashore everyday since 1 July and it sounds like they actually spent several nights ashore away from the ship in a remote area. When Dr. Nett called me today, he was talking under a palm tree on a pristine Pacific beach, so I don't think there are any complaints! The Medical Officer on board said they are installing a wifi system, so hopefully they'll be able to access the Internet soon. Once we start receiving our Situational Reports, I'll forward to you. Dr. Nett didn't have his notes with him when he called, but said they've written over 700 prescriptions and have seen over 300 patients in just the few days they've been working.