Reflecting on the 9/11 Patients I’m Still Caring For

By Jacqueline Moline, MD

As the 25th anniversary of the World Trade Center disaster approaches, I recognize that as an occupational and environmental physician in New York City, 9/11 was more than a historical event: It was personal tragedy. The human cost was immeasurable.

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A dear friend lost her husband, killed in the line of duty. Colleagues mourned family. A friend's sister became a pregnant widow. Many I knew were displaced. This city, my home, was wounded.

Amidst this personal grief, my professional duty became an urgent calling. When officials declared the air "safe to breathe," we knew that couldn't be true. We saw the dust, smelled the fumes, and understood the environmental catastrophe in front of us. Our commitment to those affected was immediate. In the weeks that followed, I saw countless patients suffering airway inflammation and new onset post-traumatic stress disorder.

My department found itself on the front lines. We were driven to care for those harmed. We immediately began developing a medical surveillance program, the seed for what would become the World Trade Center Health Program.

Seeing it grow into a comprehensive system caring for so many individuals – responders, residents, workers – has been fulfilling and heartbreaking at the same time. We integrated physical and mental health, destigmatizing crucial care.

What we learned, scientifically and humanly, was immeasurable. But perhaps the most enduring lesson is the resilience of the human spirit. I've met countless responders who, despite health challenges, never regretted their decision to help.

Their selflessness, and the incredible teamwork that arose, is something I'll never forget. For instance, I saw "9/11 widows" helping Afghan widows. The love people showed each other offered me hope. Playing a part in building a program that offers solace and treatment to so many is gratifying. But as we reach 25 years, the impact remains front and center, as it should, because despite our growing distance from that day, we continue to see new 9/11 patients.

To date, over 9,000 members enrolled in the WTC Health Program have passed away from various causes. Approximately 3,000 of these individuals were officially certified by the Program to have suffered from at least one WTC-related cancer.

While thousands of survivors already grapple with pervasive and intractable chronic ailments—ranging from debilitating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and persistent sinus inflammation to sleep apnea and severe, treatment-resistant acid reflux—a more insidious and deeply concerning wave is taking place.

Despite the care we've provided and the commitment everyone has showed, we must continue to recognize all of those who were exposed to the dust and fumes from the WTC, and continue to provide the care they deserve.

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Dr. Jacqueline Moline is director of the Northwell Health WTC Clinical Center.