A LIFESAVING FAREWELL

It was just a regular day for bioengineer Mike Shenkin at Broward Health Medical Center. He was working on a rapid infuser, a medical device, for the Level I trauma center. As part of his job, he inspects and maintains equipment used on patients around the hospital system, but his routine was interrupted by an unexpected collapse. Shenkin’s coworkers, Fred McMurtrie and Richard Morris, heard a distinct noise and noticed that Shenkin had stopped breathing and had no pulse. They instantly recognized that he was suffering a cardiac arrest.

At the same time, Tara Driscoll, a respiratory therapist at Broward Health Medical Center, was walking into the Clinical Engineering Department to speak with another staff member. “I had no clue what I was walking into,” said Driscoll. “I actually initiated CPR on him.”

The three joined forces to provide life-saving efforts by administering CPR and an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to resuscitate him. The AED sensed a shockable rhythm and discharged not once, but twice, as the Rapid Response Team came on scene. “I often work on those machines, interestingly, and they were instrumental in saving my life. It’s like the circle of life,” Shenkin said. The 71-year-old was then taken to the Emergency Department and later transferred to the cardiac catheterization laboratory (Cath Lab), where Dr. Vicuna, M.D., an interventional cardiologist with the Broward Health Physician Group, performed coronary angiography. “The test revealed total occlusion of the left main coronary artery,” Dr. Vicuna said. Shenkin was transferred immediately to the operating room, where Dr. Frank Catinella, M.D., a cardiovascular surgeon with the Broward Health Physician Group, performed a double coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. The Pompano Beach resident is thankful for everyone who saved his life and credits his survival to the swift and decisive actions of his colleagues during an incredibly stressful situation. “I can’t count the number of people who had some involvement in my case. Shenkin said. “It takes a village to pull someone from death’s door to recovery.”

Shenkin completed two months of cardiac rehabilitation at the Broward Health Medical Center gym. “Cardiac rehab is a major component in our patient care,” said Dr. Kenneth Zelnick, M.D., medical director of the cardiac rehabilitation program at Broward Health Medical Center. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see our patients regain their strength and confidence after such a challenging journey.” Shenkin returned to work and was ready to retire after 38 years of working for the Broward Health System. His colleagues celebrated his milestone with a retirement party. “It’s been quite an experience to work for Broward Health, especially at the flagship hospital, with everything that they do from cardiac to oncology, neurology, women’s services, including pediatrics neonatal and all the surgical services,” Shenkin said. “There was always something tolearn, and, people have been very gracious to allow me to learn and grow.”