Nebraska may be a world away from Haiti, but a local group of medical professionals are closing the gap.

We have seen the devastation following this week’s earthquake. The Red Cross estimates tens of thousand are dead and some believe the final total will be much greater.

Aid was on its way Saturday as cargo at Omaha's Eppley Airfield was headed to the Dominican Republic. "Haiti right now is really just a big first aid unit,” said Creighton University Medical Center Dr. Brian Loggie.

Countless medical supplies along with cases of food were heading south. Dr. Loggie helped put together this group from CUMC who were flying to the Dominican Republic to provide medical support to neighboring Haiti. The nine-member team includes general, orthopedic and pediatric surgeons, nurse anesthetists, a physician assistant and a registered nurse.

"Our mission there is to help the Dominicans’ response to this terrible tragedy to the earthquake situation in Haiti,” said Dr. Loggie.

Dr. Kurt Davey is a pediatrician who just found out about the trip Friday afternoon and quickly packed his bag. "Seeing the pictures and seeing all the destruction and all the people injured, I just thought this could be something I could do to help out.”

Dan Dollison is a physician assistant who said the team brings another valuable asset: knowledge. "I've got skills that through experience, I think they need down there and I anticipate there's a lot of orthopedic problems and basic orthopedic things that I think I can help with.”

Dr. Davey added the decision to go was never a difficult one. "If you can help, if you have the ability to go help people and there’s an opportunity for you to go, you should go.”

The team will be based out of the Institute for Latin American Concern located at La Mission near the city of Santiago. There is not yet a timetable for their return.