November 2021 THE CHARBONNEAU VILLAGER 5
Navy
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family practice training hospital before traveling to Sicily for two years as a senior medical officer at a base .
“ We had two bases there . We had the main base and we had the secondary base where more of the squadrons and the active duty members were ,” Harker said , adding that she took calls in the emergency room . “ It didn ’ t matter that I was a pediatrician . I was expected to see anybody that came in — just to do my share of the workload .”
When she returned to the U . S ., Harker trained as a neonatologist and cared for newborn infants in the intensive care unit at the university hospital at University of California San Diego and the children ’ s hospital in San Diego . Harker then worked for the Navy as a neonatologist for the last two years of her Navy career .
Harker said she stayed in the Navy as long as it was feasible . She married a Navy pilot and had two children at Navy hospitals . When her former husband retired — she has since remarried — the challenge was landing in the same geographic area . Where the Navy was wanting to send her , Harker said the location wasn ’ t feasible so she left active duty after 12 years and entered the reserves . She continued to work at hospitals in San Diego before later moving to Oregon to work at a medical center in Medford .
One experience Harker will never forget during her time in the Navy was heading back to California on a
A photo of Lee Harker , bottom , third from left , and her fellow Navy officers .
COURTESY PHOTO
ship from Mexico . There were a number of people who acquired intestinal illness , but one sailor turned out to have appendicitis . They were outside of helicopter range at that point , so no one could pick him up .
“ I remember going to the executive officer of the ship and saying , ‘ we ’ ve got to get him off the ship ,’” she said .
The sailor needed surgery and treatment that wasn ’ t available on the moving vessel .
“ There ’ s no how-to manual for how to do an appendectomy ,” Harker said . “ I did not feel necessarily equipped or capable to do an emergency appendectomy out at sea .”
Fortunately , the ship became in range of a helicopter and the sailor was taken to a hospital .
“ It was a phenomenal lesson in teamwork and how you can prepare for a lot of things but you aren ’ t necessarily prepared for everything you need to be prepared for ,” Harker said . “ I won ’ t forget that .”
After Harker left the Navy , she worked in the neonatal intensive care unit at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center , where she would carry out the remainder of her professional career .
Harker said some people thought her job was “ depressing .” But Harker said it was more of a positive place to be than pediatric or adult intensive care . She said the majority of newborns eventually get better and can be sent home .
“ I enjoyed the teamwork . I enjoyed that there ’ s a certain amount of adrenaline rush when you have a critically ill patient ,” Harker said . “ It was a really rewarding career and I loved the people who I worked with .”
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