(From left to right): Brendan Mulcahy, MD; Steven Le; Evan Harper and Justin Roberts, MD at the Commendation Coin Awards on Feb. 8
On Feb. 8, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health presented the Medical Director’s Commendation Coin to a student at Thaddeus Stevens College, Steven Le, in recognition of his heroism in performing life-saving care when a fellow student suddenly collapsed and went into cardiac arrest during class.
Medical Director’s Commendation Coins are awarded to individuals who display acts of heroism that help save lives in our community. The award started as a way to honor the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) community, but has expanded to include law enforcement, fire and rescue services, 911 dispatchers, and civilians.
Le was sitting in class when he heard a loud noise and saw that his peer, Evan Harper, had collapsed. Le ran to the back of the room and cleared tables and chairs to begin performing CPR on Harper until the school nurse and EMS arrived to continue care with an automated external defibrillation (AED) machine.
“Expect the unexpected,” said Le. “Not every day you would think something like that would happen.”
EMS then transported Harper to Lancaster General Hospital (LGH) where he was placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and received an internal defibrillator. He was discharged from LGH after 11 days. Harper remains healthy and looks forward to graduating from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in May 2023.
After learning of Harper’s recovery, Le said he “felt amazing.”
Harper’s father commended Le and all who were part of his son’s care. “You guys made every holiday, every birthday, every Christmas, everything for the last year worth it,” he said.