The tragic tour bus crash last Friday on the New York State Thruway in Pembroke resulted in a massive emergency and medical response from first responders and providers throughout Western New York, including many UB physicians, most of whom practice under the UBMD Physicians’ Group.

Many of those responding were from the UB Department of Emergency Medicine, the Department of Surgery and UBMD Emergency Medicine and UBMD Surgery. Among those who arrived early on the scene, providing intense triage, were EMS Operations Director Joseph Bart and Kevin McGee. Assisting with the on-site response were Johanna Innes, Marta Plonka and John McNamara, all faculty members in the Department of Emergency Medicine, as well as Greg May, an emergency medicine fellow. Jennifer Pugh of the same department led the ECMC Emergency Department response, along with many colleagues from emergency medicine and surgery, including James Lukan. Many UB residents also responded, with several coming to ECMC from other sites to help out. 

At Buffalo General Medical Center, Brian Ludwig led the response, and Mike Filice did so at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital. Jeremy Killion in the Department of Pediatrics led the response at Oishei Children’s Hospital.

“Our sincere sympathies go to the victims and families affected by the tragic tour bus crash in Pembroke,” said Allison Brashear, vice president for health sciences and dean of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “We wish the survivors strength in the days ahead and a full recovery. We are so grateful for our UB faculty, trainees and UBMD practitioners who rushed to assist them, both at the scene and later at area hospitals, for their swift, compassionate care.”