February 8, 2010:  Dr. Finkelstein reports in from Haiti. "Much severe eye trauma needing eye evaluations, diabetes clinic tomorrow and Thursday. We are sleeping 10 to a room under mosquito nets, rain today difficult for my transporting eye equipment."

In this photo, Dr. Finkelstein provides eye care to a patient who suffered injuries in the earthquake.

February 5, 2010: The Berman Institute's Daniel Finkelstein, M.D., professor of ophthalmology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, left on Friday, Feb. 5, to volunteer at a hospital in northern Haiti as part of a mission with the Order of Malta Federal Association.

Finkelstein will be among 10 physicians and nurses tending to quake victims at Crudem Hôpital Sacré Coeur, the largest private hospital in northern Haiti. Because of its location, the hospital was not damaged, nor was the adjacent landing area for aircraft. As a result, injured continue to be helicoptered in, while physicians, staff and volunteers struggle to keep pace.

Finkelstein, who specializes in laser treatment of diabetic retinopathy, had signed up for the mission well before last month’s catastrophic earthquake. He had planned to observe and treat the potentially blinding condition.

But given the overwhelming need for more basic, urgent care, Finkelstein said he is prepared to provide whatever medical assistance is most needed.

"They could say, 'Go scrub, and help this orthopedic surgeon with this amputation,’" and that’s what he’ll do, said Finkelstein, who intends to use his cell phone to send in updates and pictures when he can.

The Berman Institute will share updates from Finkelstein via its Facebook and Twitter pages.

The 64-bed Crudem Hôpital Sacré Coeur is using two schools as an emergency/triage area and to house overflow patients until classes resume in a few weeks. A portable hospital with beds for 300 patients has been donated and is being set up on land loaned by the mayor of Milot, the town where the hospital is located.

For several years, Finkelstein has participated in the Order of Malta's annual pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, where patients are taken for spiritual healing. The association is an American lay religious order of the Catholic Church.

The hospital's website is http://www.crudem.org/, and physicians and supporters are following, sharing pictures and connecting through Facebook and Twitter as well

For information about other people from Johns Hopkins University in Haiti, and how you can help, click here.