Local Villages Health Dr. Laura Cloukey is being hailed as a hero. Dr. Cloukey who works in Internal Medicine, was on a flight up to Boston to enjoy a weekend with family and friends for July 4th weekend, when she was thrust into action aboard a JetBlue flight in midair. A student-athlete who was on her way home from Florida after a travel volleyball tournament, suddenly collapsed in her seat. Dr. Cloukey, who is also the Medical Director of Education for The Villages Health, was thrust into action.

“At first I assessed the scene and when I saw she was in distress, that’s when I jumped in and began to take charge,” says Dr. Cloukey. The flight was actually descending and was around 30 minutes from Boston when the medical episode occurred. Dr. Cloukey unstrapped from her seat and began assessing the young girl’s condition.

Dr. Cloukey took the young girls blood pressure and pulse, applied ice packs and had 2 portable cooling fans put on her. Dr. Cloukey also checked her blood sugar.

“She was very dehydrated, likely the result of her playing volleyball. Especially coming from Florida, we see dehydration issues a lot in Florida during the summertime. This includes pickleball players, softball players, golfers and others who participate in outdoor activities right here in The Villages,” says Dr. Cloukey.

Dr. Cloukey got the young girl some apple juice and fluids and remained with her the entire way down until landing, making sure she was going to be alright. When the flight landed, medical personnel came aboard the flight to help the young girl disembark the plane. She was deemed to be stable, thankfully, which we are thrilled to hear about. After disembarking the plane with her husband Mark, Dr. Cloukey even got a personal text from the JetBlue CEO thanking her for her efforts.

Dr. Cloukey is originally from Waltham, Massachusetts. She completed her undergraduate at University of Massachusetts. She attended medical school at University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is Board Certified: American Board of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Cloukey moved to The Villages in 2014 and has been a doctor with The Villages Health for 11 years. Before that, she worked in Quincy, Massachusetts as a women’s primary care doctor for 20+ years. When she is not saving lives, Dr. Cloukey can be found riding her horse. She is an accomplished Dressage rider and competes at many Dressage events at World Equestrian Center in Ocala.