East Orange hospital doctor first emergency physician to die from coronavirus complications

An East Orange General Hospital doctor on Wednesday became the first emergency physician to die from likely coronavirus complications, the American College of Emergency Physicians said in a statement.

Frank Gabrin, 60, of New York City died in his husband's arms just days after he developed symptoms consistent with those of the virus. He was a two-time cancer survivor.

"He was just an amazing man," said Debra Vasalech Lyons, who was friends with Gabrin for 20 years. 

Gabrin focused on helping physicians heal from burnout, helping "health care heroes thrive," Lyons said. He emphasized compassion as a way to heal.

Arnold Vargas, Gabrin's husband, told NBC News that Gabrin was not tested for COVID-19 but was certain he was infected. Gabrin and Vargas were married for less than a year.

"This was their fairytale," Lyons said. "It happened so fast. An hour later, he was gone."

Gabrin was “delightful, caring and wonderful to work with,"  Alvaro Alban, chairman of East Orange’s Emergency Department, told NBC.

"I believe that caring for others should be an emotionally rewarding, health-generating experience," Gabrin wrote on his website. "I believe that there is nothing better than caring for others, making a real difference that matters for them. I believe in changing the world, making it a better place, one patient encounter at a time."

A health care worker at University Hospital in Newark also has died. Kim King-Smith, a technician who performed EKGs, or electrocardiograms, died Tuesday from COVID-19 complications, said Dr. Shereef Elnahal, the hospital’s chief executive.

Her family said “her smile was more infectious than the virus that took her life,” Elnahal said in a tweet Wednesday.  

"Emergency physicians understand that sometimes in our efforts to save your life, we may end up sacrificing our own," American College of Emergency Physicians President William Jaquis said in a statement.

"This is not a decision made lightly or a post abandoned in times of need," Jaquis added. "We know the risks of the job we signed up for, but we are on the frontlines in this historic war against COVID-19 with insufficient protection."

The American College of Emergency Physicians asked health professionals to "take the pause" at 8 p.m. Wednesday to honor Gabrin, "a life lost on the frontlines."

Alexis Shanes is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: shanesa@northjersey.com Twitter: @alexisjshanes