Marisa Eve Girawong, a 28-year-old Edison resident known as Eve, was killed in an avalanche caused by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in central Nepal on April 25.
Ms. Girawong was working as a base camp doctor for Everest/Lhotse expedition, according to Madison Mountaineering, the Seattle, Washington, guide service where she was employed.
Ms. Girawong was a 2004 graduate of John P. Stevens High School, Edison, and a 2009 graduate of Rutgers-Newark University with a degree in biology.
According to her profile on the Madison Mountaineering website, Ms. Girawong was a physician’s assistant working in a Level 1 Emergency Room with a focus on trauma and wilderness medicine.
A statement from East Orange General Hospital, East Orange, stated that Ms. Girawong previously worked as a physician assistant in the Emergency Room.
In 2012, the Madison Mountaineering website states, Ms. Girawong completed her medical training at John Stroger Hospital of Chicago, graduating with honors for Master of Medical Sciences and Physician Assistant studies. The website also states that she was completing a second master’s degree and postgraduate diploma in mountain medicine at the University of Leicester (UK).
On April 25, Madison Mountaineering’s Facebook page had the following post: “Our hearts are broken. It is with deep sorrow and profound grief that we can confirm the loss of our Everest/Lhotse base camp doctor, Marisa Eve Girawong.
“Eve perished in the aftermath of the av- alanche that struck the base camp area following the devastating Nepal earthquake earlier today. Our thoughts and prayers are with Eve and her family and friends.
“We will have more information later after daybreak in Nepal and additional updates from our team. Thank you for your combined prayers and well wishes.”