Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Voice of a First Responder on 9/11
Jasmin Rodriguez
It was a moment in history where you remember exactly where you were when you heard the news. You got to a TV immediately to witness something unheard of – horrific, terrifying, life-altering, world changing! Then you called people in New York whom you knew, to see if they were OK. Recently I talked with friends about the fire fighters and police officers, those first responders to the calamity of 9/11, who ran up the twin towers of the World Trade Center while thousands were streaming down. What makes a few people run to the danger when masses are running away? How does a person take on the challenge of rending aide en masse during an unprecedented crisis? Our guest was there when it all happened.
Jasmin Rodriguez was born to Puerto Rican parents on the Island of Manhattan. Before moving to Hawaii over 8 years ago she was responsible for the everyday operations of Communications at Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers in New York. A corporation comprised of eight Catholic facilities with three Level 1 trauma centers. Saint Vincent Manhattan, was the closest Level 1 trauma center to Ground Zero (World Trade Center) in 2001. Jasmin is Director of Communications and Marketing at Castle Medical Center. With over 20 years of marketing, communications and crisis management experience, Jasmin’s passion is healthcare. While working for Lincoln Hospital and Mental Health Center (one of 22 municipal hospitals run by the City of New York), she went on to become the Director of Communications and Deputy Vice President for the entire municipal system of 22 hospitals. She was also the Special Assistant to the Editor and Director of Community and Promotions for the Hispanic newspaper El Diario/LA PRENSA, the largest and oldest Hispanic newspaper on the East Coast. Jasmin and her husband Randy are active in church and politics. They teach a pre-marital course in the New Hope Hospitality ministry. They live in Kailua and have 2 English Cocker Spaniels; a 5-year old black female named Sidney Ikaika & a 4-year old blonde male named Gunner Kekoa.
“In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge…” Psalm 62:7