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09/11/2021 Joseph S. Fox, DPM, MPH
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (REMEMBERING 9/11)
I was there on 9/11, 20 years ago, and wanted to
share my experiences and thoughts of what occurred
that day. I was an attending doctor at New York
Downtown Hospital, now Weill-Cornell Lower
Manhattan Presbyterian Hospital. I had a private
office at the downtown surgical facility at the
hospital and was scheduled to see patients that
morning. As I drove in from upstate New York, I
heard the news of the first plane crashing into the
World Trade Center tower. I contemplated turning
back, but somehow felt that I needed to continue my
journey into NYC in whatever capacity I would
possibly be needed for at the hospital. Little did
I know the role I was about to play, along with my
fellow surgical and medical staff that day.
I was stopped several times on the Westside Highway
and local streets by police and showed my hospital
ID, and purpose for entering a now restricted area.
There was a smoked-filled sky with white dust
surrounding the entire downtown area. When the
second tower was hit, a large explosion was heard ,
and I witnessed thousands of people running out of
the area and heading in every direction away from
the scene of what was to be called Ground Zero.
As I entered the hospital, and identified myself, I
was asked to immediately go to the emergency room
in anticipation of hundreds of injured people that
would be arriving. My fellow colleagues were
already prepared to diagnose and treat patients
after being triaged and evaluated for their
injuries.
Some time after 10 am that morning, large
explosions and a deafening noise was heard
throughout the entire hospital. The first tower
imploded and collapsed, followed very closely by
the second tower. The ER quickly became filled
with the injured coming in by ambulance or walking
in on their own. Many bleeding profusely from glass
that shattered and became lethal projectiles.
Injuries consisted of deep wounds, head trauma, and
severe bodily injuries. Most people were in a state
of deep shock.
I joined with my fellow colleagues in treating
wounds and massive bodily trauma. Lower extremity
injuries included a severed Achilles tendon,
multiple glass fragments embedded in soft tissue
and bone, and open wounds with dislocation or
fracture. As a podiatrist, I concentrated on lower
extremity injuries, as well as suturing or treating
all body parts. My experience in trauma rotations
as a resident was invaluable in a situation that
now existed and my training evidently maximized.
After hundreds of patients were seen and treated,
the early afternoon quieted down, and only a
handful of people arrived, some in shock, others
that were neighborhood residents with smoke, and
dust inhalation issues affecting pulmonary
function.
As an eerie silence permeated downtown lower
Manhattan, and the ER no longer busy, several
doctors and nurses as well as myself, walked to the
Ground Zero area where the buildings had collapsed.
As we walked from the Gold Street ER entrance
toward the west side on Church Street over
Broadway, we became covered with a fine white dust.
We wore surgical masks to avoid inhaling particles
of debris, and as we made our way as close to where
this all occurred
We saw brave police, firefighters, and first
responders still going through the debris site
looking for possible survivors, many with eye and
lung injuries from the continuous barrage of
airborne particles throughout the area. They were
the true heroes. We left the site and returned to
the hospital, and stayed on, since we were not
allowed to leave the area.
I look back at that time, 20 years ago, and as a
podiatrist and fellow physician feel privileged to
have contributed in helping and treating the
survivors of that tragic day in history.
Joseph S. Fox, DPM, MPH, NY, NY
Other messages in this thread:
09/13/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (REMEMBERING 9/11)
From: David Arkin, DPM (retired)
It is easy, in our busy professional lives of service, to forget how fragile modern civilization can be, and how quickly the values and freedoms we take for granted can be usurped by those intent to destroy us. Thank you once again for your first-person report of that awful day. May it serve as a poignant reminder for us to remain ever vigilant for ourselves and future generations.
David Arkin, DPM (retired), Greene, NY
09/11/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (REMEMBERING 9/11)
From: Joseph S. Fox, DPM, MPH
Remembering 9/11 23 years ago, and experiencing firsthand the enormity of the disaster and loss of life on that day will always be part of my history. As an Attending doctor in the Dept of Surgery at Beekman Downtown Hospital, now Weill-Cornell Lower Manhattan, I had clinic hours that morning. Patients were scheduled beginning at 9:30 AM. I arrived at the hospital, and all healthcare personnel were summoned to the Emergency Room immediately. Everyone there spent the next several days treating survivors that worked in the area as well as first responders, firefighters, and police officers. Many had traumatic injuries from flying debris and trauma. We were called in on several surgical cases involving the lower extremity; and in the ER, found ourselves attending to general wounds of the entire body. I was also on staff at the then St. Vincent's hospital which was also the trauma center in Lower Manhattan. Unfortunately, not many people were seen there since so many perished at ground zero.
Looking back at the tragedy that was 9/11, it is and will be permanently embedded in my memory. Many first responders have related medical issues from our exposure to the debris in the area and fortunately are part of the World Trade Center Health program. We were awarded plaques from the City of New York for our services that day; however, it was all done because we all decided to stay there because we wanted to, not because we had to. It was truly a testimony to the dedication of all first responders that were there that day.
Joseph S. Fox, DPM, MPH, NY, NY
09/11/2021
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (REMEMBERING 9/11)
RE: Remembering 9/11
From: Joseph S. Fox, DPM, MPH
I was there on 9/11, 20 years ago, and wanted to share my experiences and thoughts of what occurred that day. I was an attending doctor at New York Downtown Hospital, now Weill-Cornell Lower Manhattan Presbyterian Hospital. I had a private office at the downtown surgical facility at the hospital and was scheduled to see patients that morning. As I drove in from upstate New York, I heard the news of the first plane crashing into the World Trade Center tower. I contemplated turning back, but somehow felt that I needed to continue my journey into NYC in whatever capacity I would possibly be needed for at the hospital. Little did I know the role I was about to play, along with my fellow surgical and medical staff that day.
I was stopped several times on the Westside Highway and local streets by police and showed my hospital ID, and purpose for entering a now restricted...
Editor's note: Dr. Fox's extended-length letter can be read here.
09/16/2019
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (REMEMBERING 9/11) - PART 1B
From: Bruce G Blank, DPM
I wanted to share a couple of things my office staff did on Wednesday 9-11-19 to commemorate those who lost their lives on 9-11-01 when the United States was attacked by Islamic terrorists.
One of my medical assistants asked me if it was okay if she left her phone near our front desk where she would set an alarm that would play Taps coinciding with the times that each of the planes hit the Twin Towers and when...
Editor's note: Dr. Blank's extended-length letter can be read here.
09/16/2019
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (REMEMBERING 9/11) - PART 1A
From: Andrew Levy, DPM
Once again I have read Dr. Block's story and his poignant thoughts as he processed his view of New York City and a world that was forever changed. I have read it and traveled back through your eyes again this year as I have every year when he publishes it. This year, the stories on the news also focus on the first responders and the passage of legislation, finally, to help ease the burden of those first responders and their families.
I feel compelled to write to make sure our podiatric brethren who served at the WTC site are also recognized and not forgotten. The NYCPM started providing their faculty, residents, and students to provide foot care to the relief workers at the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Relief Center from the earliest start of...
Editor's note: Dr. Levy's extended-length letter can be read here.
09/12/2019
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (REMEMBERING 9/11)
From: Silvia Virbulis, DPM
This evening, I had occasion to read the newest PM News offering. I wanted to thank you for repeating your impressions of your 9/11 experience. I remember calling you during that time to see how you were doing and hope that all was well for you. Although the day has each of us remembering where we were and how we felt, one factor for me will always be that phone call. I respect your repeating the raw emotion in the editorial so that we never forget.
Thank you, Dr. Block for the importance of that message.
Silvia Virbulis, DPM, Salisbury, NC
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