University Hospitals Physician Leaders Come to the Aid of Injured Student

UH Clinical Update | December 2024

The young woman suddenly lying still in the street immediately caught the attention of two UH physician leaders. Seated at Harrington Discovery Institute, they had a bird's eye view of where Euclid Avenue intersects Ford Road in University Circle.

This past April, Dan Simon, MD, President, Academic & External Affairs and Chief Scientific Officer, Ernie and Patti Novak Distinguished Chair in Health Care Leadership, and Jonathan Stamler, MD, President, Harrington Discovery Institute, Robert S. and Sylvia K. Reitman Family Foundation Chair in Cardiovascular Innovation and Distinguished University Professor, were eating lunch with Harrington partners and global collaborators, including Morgan Stanley and the University of Oxford. The meeting was part of an annual development retreat held at the Harrington Discovery Institute's office in Uptown, with their table overlooking the street.

Jonathan Stamler, MD (L) and Dan Simon, MD at "Dinner with the Doc" recognition dinner.

Both saw her at the same time and raced down two flights of stairs.

The woman had been on the pedestrian crosswalk when a car making a left turn hit her; she'd landed on its hood before falling to the pavement.

“We were the first ones to get to her," says Dr. Simon. “We were afraid she might have sustained life-threatening injuries. Her left arm was clearly broken, and she was crying from the pain."

Fortunately, the young woman was conscious and able to speak. It seemed only her arm was severely injured and her leg was probably broken.

“The first thing she said was, “'Where's my phone?'" recalls Dr. Simon. It had flown from her hand and no one saw it; in the meantime, a crowd of about 40 people had gathered on the sidewalk. Her ID was also with the phone.

The young woman gave Dr. Simon her parents' number - both physicians, they were in Kansas City for a meeting. But since his was an unfamiliar number, they didn't pick up.

So he called Eric Kaler, president of Case Western Reserve University, to tell him a student - as it turned out, she was a pre-med sophomore - had been injured. Dr. Simon said it was clear she would need orthopedic trauma surgery for her arm.

The two physicians comforted her and got her stabilized while EMS was on the way; they searched for the phone, even as cars whizzed by.

Eventually they would find her phone, glasses and AirPods some 60 feet away, and though damaged, the phone worked. Dr. Simon called the student's parents, who answered.

EMS took the student to the Level I Trauma Center at UH Cleveland Medical Center for emergency surgery. The driver whose car had hit her remained on the scene.

Dr. Stamler reassured the student, who was worried about getting behind in her studies. “You are very, very lucky," he said. “We can fix your arm and leg."

Matthew Moorman, MD, supervised her initial evaluation, and John Sontich, MD, operated on her. She was discharged the next day; both Drs. Stamler and Simon were there to see her and meet her parents.

 “They were incredibly grateful," said Dr. Simon.

As all physicians know, “Is there a doctor in the house?" isn't an uncommon question in planes, restaurants, or crowds.

And when two or more doctors come forward, any cardiologist present usually becomes the designated responder.

In this case, it was two cardiologists, and they were on the scene before anyone could even ask for their assistance.

“I'm happy that we were in the right place to help," said Dr. Stamler.

Dr. Simon's and Dr. Stamler's heroic efforts earned them a Dinner with the Doc honor from the Cliff Appreciates program; the dinner was held last month.