9/11 Reflections: Michael Dailey

I was a new attending physician on the morning of 9/11, practicing 150 miles north of Manhattan. We prepared for an influx of patients that never came. Staffed ambulance task forces that were never needed. And, like so many others, watched the horror on TV and yearned to help. 

I think 9/11, and now our COVID response, have left us with more coordinated systems to handle large crises. Each crisis has been very different, and we will prepare for all hazards based upon experiences we have had. Will we ever really be ready for the loss and the tragedy? No. Will our professional public safety personnel be ready to respond and perform? Absolutely.

There were no clouds in the sky that morning, and for me, looking up at a clear, deep blue sky has never been the same. Take these days to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice that day, the horror for those who worked for months on the pile, and always support those whose wounds—medical, physical, and psychological—persist many years later. Never forget the bravery, the honor, and the sacrifice shown in Shanksville, Pa.; Washington, D.C.; and New York City.

Michael Dailey, MD

Director of Prehospital Care Services and Education, Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center