Not every mission is going to make the headlines in national news, but our trip to Ethiopia uncovered important information for future missions of any volunteer organization providing health services in Ethiopia.
Physicians for Peace (PFP) is working with Family Health International (FHI) to assess how to better utilize volunteers in community outreach training programs. A team of two medical volunteers, Peg Matsen, a Public Health nurse from Delaware and Evelyn Tomaszewski, with the National Association of Social Workers, left on Saturday for a fact finding mission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Their mission objective is to visit FHI programs and then identify needs that can be met through current Physicians for Peace programs - in particular, focusing on maternal and child health and an overall objective of incorporating volunteers.
Peg and Evelyn arrived in Addis Ababa and are texting us to say that all has gone off to a good start. Here is a synopsis of their recent report:
"The mission is significant to us both for our partnership with Family Health International as well for its incorporating social workers.
Returning to Ethiopia after 5 years, I see much improvement in society structure here. I know the "nurses" assigned to programs here are expected to handle everything. But I see with the Social Workers being graduated from the Addis Ababa University here that social work can now be more fully expanded, strengthen, and utilized.
We were met at the main office of HIV/AIDS Prevention Care & Support Organization (HAPSCO) by more than ten nurse supervisors and four Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) officers and the Home and Community Based Care (HCBC) program coordinator, Ato Tadios, and as a group, had a discussion about their work and what trainings in psycho-social issues they would find most helpful. They shared great ideas and issues most relevant to them at this time:
• conflict resolution
• communication skills
• counseling techniques
• depression and anxiety for those living w/ HIV / AIDS
• child counseling for those who have lost parents
• child development and stages thru age 18 yrs
• reducing burnout
• evaluating and measuring success
• concept of volunteerism
At the end of our session/discussion, a member spokesperson expressed their deep gratitude for all the help you have provided to them. It was the biggest heart felt "Thank You" I have heard in a long time. You [Physicians for Peace] are a great leader and your staff and beneficiaries feel your understanding of their work and greatly appreciate your technical support."
This social work initiative here in Ethiopia has great possibilities and the social work trainings proposed through FHI and PFP collaboration will make a difference in how these services can be provided. We will keep you posted on this fact finding mission.
Shortly after the earthquake ripped open the heart of Haiti, Physicians for Peace responded with a fundraising drive to support its two partners in Haiti, both of which were reduced to rubble. This week, Physicians of Peace sent checks of almost $27,000 each directly to Healing Hands for Haiti and St. Vincent's School for Handicapped. These funds represented the donations collected by Physicians for Peace in the direct aftermath of the earthquake and were intended for immediate relief operations in Haiti.
Prior to the devastating earthquake, there were an estimated 800,000 disabled people in Haiti. This population was disproportionately underserved and in many cases, shunned as outcasts. To meet the needs of Haiti’s disabled, Physicians for Peace, a Norfolk, VA-based nonprofit that provides medical training for health care providers in the developing world, began working in Haiti in 2005 as part of its Walking Free program—one of a very limited number of agencies with a sustainable track record in Haiti working with amputees.
Physicians for Peace has now strategically shifted its focus from the initial relief operations to the long term rebuilding effort in support of Haiti's disabled population. All cash and material donations will be used as part of Physicians for Peace’s Walking Free program in Haitito organize, train and supply prosthetic and orthotic production and training facilities.
Walking Free—An Initiative of Hope for Haiti’s Disabled
Amputee and celebrity Heather Mills publicly launched the campaign on Larry King Live. Physicians for Peace also enlisted the aid of Hanger Orthotics and Prosthetics, the nation’s largest manufacturer, to use its 670+ sites across the nation as collection points. Dozens of cities, agencies and companies are now sponsoring local drives and Physicians for Peace has become the “go to” agency to donate desperately needed mobility equipment. Our 10,000 sq. ft. warehouse is now overflowing, and we have partnered with Arpin Van Linesand Hampton Roads Moving and Storage for additional storage capacity. These items will be shipped via container to Haiti over the coming weeks.
Physicians for Peace has formed two coalitions to ensure that amputee victims of the earthquake will soon walk again and play an active role in Haiti’s recovery. The first alliance is the Hispaniola Prosthetics and Orthotics Education Coalition with Healing Hands for Haiti and the International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics-US. Healing Hands for Haiti has been our long-term partner in the devastated capital city Port-au-Prince and is settin up temporary (and eventually, permanent) work space in the city and will soon be able to begin prosthetic production. There are vital equipment, medical supplies and professional medical volunteers we need to send. With your generous donations, we can mobilize these efforts quickly.
Second, recognizing that considerable activity is focused in the capital city, Physicians for Peace has joined Hanger Orthopedic Group, Inc., Shepherd Spinal Center, and the Harold & Kayrita Anderson Family Foundation to launch the “Haitian Amputee Coalition” to support the central plateau region. This coalition is creating a long-term prosthetic production center at Hôpital Albert Schweitzer, an undamaged local hospital 60 miles from Port-au-Prince.
You can help Haiti’s disabled.
Your monetary donations will help restore the production, training and rehabilitation infrastructure for Haiti’s disabled and will give Physicians for Peace the leverage to adequately organize, train and supply our Walking Free program.
Thank you for all you have already done for the people in Haiti and for supporting our work.
Yesterday’s event exceeded everyone’s expectation. We estimate more than 250 cars dropped off donations at our Old Dominion University site. From yesterday’s 3 hour drive, we collected enough materials to fill one 40 foot container… which, when eventually sent, will change the lives of hundreds of disabled Haitians.
Every donor had a story.
· “My grandmother recently died and we had her wheelchair. We’ve written a note on the back of the wheelchair sending our love to the people of Haiti.”
· “I represent the largest maritime law firm in Hampton Roads. We sent out an email to all our attorneys and are donating these dozens of walkers and crutches.”
· “I wanted to do something for the people of Haiti and went around to every thrift store in the area and bought all of their crutches to donate.”
· “I work for the school system and we had these sitting in a storage area. I hope these crutches will help someone in Haiti.”
· Sobbing: “My wife died last month. This donation will help me to know that she was really able to help those in Haiti.”
These are but a few of the hundreds of stories we heard yesterday. My thanks to staffers Mary Kwasniewski, Monika Bridgforth and Ken Hudson and long time PFP volunteer and ODU professor Gail Grisetti for organizing this event in just a few short days. Thanks also to MOC member Dr. Raouf Gharbo and ODU MOC student rep Patricia Birungi who were there from beginning to end helping to unload the donations. And a special thanks to the students and faculty of Old Dominion University’s School of Physical Therapy who did the yeoman’s work managing the hundreds of pieces of equipment we collected.
All the local media covered the event. We are particularly indebted to CBS’s WTKR Channel 3 here in Norfolk and to NBC 4 in Washington DC for their extensive pre-coverage of the drive. (See the Pilot’s article at: http://hamptonroads.com/2010/01/medicalsupply-drive-nets-huge-ourpouring-haiti.) We expect further coverage on Larry King tomorrow night.
This is only the beginning. Couple this, and future collections with Hanger’s generous donation of $125,000 in cash and equipment, and our Walking Free program is poised to have a significant impact on the reconstruction phase of Haiti’s people.
Best,
Ron
Brigadier General Ron Sconyers (USAF, Ret.) President and CEO, Physicians for Peace
We recently received the news that Gail Kelly, long time friend and supporter of Physicians for Peace, passed away peacefully over the weekend at her home in Alabama. Gail served as Director of Medical Programs at Physicians for Peace from 1989 to 2005 and then moved on to join the Peace Corps. During her time at Physicians for Peace, she worked hard to build the organization and was well-known and respected by volunteers and staff alike. She was a friend to everyone she came in contact with and loved helping others through Physicians for Peace. She will be greatly missed.
To make a gift to Physicians for Peace in memory of Gail Kelly, you can donate online or send your gift by mail to:
Physicians for Peace Gail Kelly Memorial Fund 229 W. Bute Street Norfolk, VA 23451
Diane Strout (center), Chair of Physicians for Peace's Global Nurse Education Committee, making friends with nurses from Algeria, Philippines, Egypt and Libya during a recent mission to Libya International Medical University in Benghazi.
In honor of our 20th anniversary,we have been recognizing those whose work has contributed to the success of Physicians for Peace. It would be impossible to talk about the heroes of medical volunteer work without giving credit to the nurses who devote their time, hard work, and expertise to Physicians for Peace programs.
Nurses are a vital part of every surgery mission, but that is only the beginning of the important contributions they provide. As an organization focused on medical education, we could not do the work we do without the help of volunteer nurses. The Physicians for Peace Global Nurse Education Committee has developed curriculae for teaching a variety of medical skills in resource-poor settings. Creating these replicable programs in medical education has enabled thousands of medical professionals in the developing world to gain life-saving information which they have used to improve the quality of care in their communities. These training programs, which cover everything from midwifery skills to treatment of pediatric burns, have also allowed more volunteers to effectively teach around the world, reaching more people in need.
The Global Nurse Education Committee (GNEC), part of the Physicians for Peace Medical Operations Committee (MOC), is comprised of nurses practicing in a variety of fields, representing hospitals, universities, and medical schools throughout Virginia. But its members are not only concerned with training and academia. They are the ones on the ground in the developing world, working side by side with their in-country counterparts caring for patients, delivering medical supplies and medicines, and helping to establish self-sustaining clinics and treatment centers around the world. These ambassadors of international health education also exchange cultural awareness and develop valuable friendships.
Their on-going work is invaluable to the mission of Physicians for Peace, and we honor them as our heroes!
We have posted many stories from our recent medical mission to the Philippines. Our volunteers worked with patients in our on-going programs there, Walking Free and Seeing Clearly. Their trip was even more important because they were able to lend a hand with relief efforts in the aftermath of the typhoons that had hit the area only a week before. Ken Hudson, Physicians for Peace Gifts in Kind Manager, was there to witness a population bonding together in the face of loss and tragedy. He shares his personal story of what it was like trying to deliver food and water to families in need:
The first couple of days of our mission to the Philippines focused on the “Walking Free” program and how we could better meet the needs of its patients. We had visited the facilities at PGH (Philippine General Hospital) and Clark Air Field. Today would be different since we would be participating in a relief effort which is something that we normally do not do - Physicians for Peace is an organization that focuses primarily on medical education.
During this part of the mission we were supposed to visit the area of the Philippines called Northern Luzon. Unfortunately we were not able to do so because of the damage that the area had sustained from typhoons Ondong and Pepeng. Lyne Abanilla, PFP’s representative on the ground in the Philippines, asked our team if we would like to help hand out relief supplies to victims of the recent flooding caused by the typhoons. The effort would be in Pasig which is part of Metro Manila. We jumped at the chance to help.
We meet Lyne at the Manila Bulletin which is where she works. The Manila Bulletin is the nation’s second oldest newspaper and claims the second largest circulation in the Phlippines. The paper is located in the historic Intramuros section of Manila.
When we arrive we are noisily greeted by a room full of volunteers that are busy packing the supplies that will be taken to Pasig. The volunteers include Rotarians, business owners, and doctors. The volunteers are eagerly making and packing peanut butter sandwiches. We quickly pitch in, and in no time everything is finished and ready for transport. Once loaded, we head for the police station to pick up our police escort and the truck that will transport the supplies and the volunteers.
Once we get to Pasig, we are greeted by our security escorts. Our truck that will carry the volunteers and supplies is a standard troop/personnel carrier. There will be seats for 8 people but about a dozen or so of the volunteers will have to stand up during the trip with only the wire from the surrounding cage to hang on to.
We are escorted by two police vehicles as we leave the compound. As we slowly make our way through traffic we notice that we are waved through at every intersection by the local traffic cops. Apparently word has been sent ahead in order to help ease our way through the heavy traffic.
The traffic, which is always backed up, becomes even harder to work our way through. We realize that this is due to the roads being closed due to the flooding and landslides. Then traffic comes to an abrupt halt. Right in front of us is a section of road that is completely submerged. Our escorts slowly ease their way through the water and for a while look as if they are getting ready to float away. We are nervous and are sure that they are not going to make it but eventually they are out of the water. As we inch our way forward, we are greeted by people in boats and tricycles. Some people are actually swimming or wading in the dirty water. To the left of us we notice personnel bridges made of two by fours supported by wooden bases that have been hastily constructed so that people can get in and out of the area. This is a scene that I had never witnessed and am once again awestruck at the ingenuity of the Filipino people.
Once we make it out of the water we arrive at our destination. Suddenly we are greeted by a large crowd that starts cheering and waving. These are the people that we have been sent to help.
Suddenly we are out of the truck and on the ground. The supplies are taken off of the truck and moved to a gymnasium that will be the main distribution point. There are also a large number of people in the gym. We are told that the people outside have suffered some damage to their homes but their homes are still habitable. The people inside the gym have lost most of their possessions and their homes were destroyed or almost completely destroyed.
While everyone is busy getting the supplies ready for distribution I grab my camera and spot a set of stairs inside the gym where I can get a few good pictures of what is going on inside. As soon as I get to the top of the stairs, a door flies open and I am greeted by a young man. I realize that I am invading someone’s “home”. But instead of being angry, the young man asks if I can take a picture of his family. I agree and suddenly they are all in front of me eagerly posing for the camera. Once again, here is a family that instead of focusing on their terrible loss, are instead trying to have fun by posing for a picture.
I quickly turn around and start snapping pictures of the scene on the gym floor. The sight that appears before me is shocking. These are families that have been dislocated. It looks as if some of them had little or no time to grab anything of value. Dirty blankets and sheets have been erected in an attempt at privacy. Some of the people look as if they do not have any clean clothes. Children are running in and out of the makeshift dwellings playing and laughing. The crowd is starting to murmur with anticipation of a chance to receive some water and a little bit of food.
As I make my way to the floor and start walking in and out of the dwellings, I am greeted by calls of “hello sir”, “good evening sir”, and “how are you doing sir”. Everyone has a smile as I greet them.
After taking pictures for a few minutes I notice that Lyne has the volunteers ready to hand out the supplies to the people inside the gym. I run over and grab a big box of bottled water and drag it on the floor as someone else passes out the bottles. We are told to try to limit each family to one bottle. We need to make sure that everyone, including the people outside, receives their fair share of supplies. The first box empties rather quickly and then we start working on a second box of water. Suddenly people start running up to me and asking “tubig please”, water please. Though I know that every family should have received a bottle of water I cannot turn them down. What if their family is very large? How long has it been since they had fresh drinking water? What if they have small children? So I give them some more. Once again I hear many “thank you sirs” and “salamat po”. Then I spot Doc Montero who is also busy handing out water. Someone is asking him to limit the amount of water that he is giving away. He shouts back that the children keep asking him for water and how can he turn them down. My thoughts exactly.
Eventually mats and blankets are also passed out. A small amount of cooked noodles and bread with peanut butter is given to each family. We are finished handing out supplies to the “residents” of the gym.
Now we shift to the people waiting outside. Everyone is standing in two lines. The supplies start moving down the line but we need to move a little quicker. These people have been waiting for quite some time and we want to make sure that they get their fair share. Lyne is urging everyone to move a little quicker. We certainly don’t want anyone to think that they are going to be left out. It seems that the supplies move a little quicker this time and before we know it we are finished. Through all of the commotion there is no pushing, shoving, fighting or cursing. Everyone is well-behaved and courteous.
Night has come, so we start to gather the few supplies that we have left and put them on the truck. As we make our way to the truck to leave we are greeted with “thank you ate” (older sister), “thank you kuya” (older brother), “thank you sir” or salamat po. Some of the volunteers are on the truck. As I get ready to climb on I hear a child call out “tanapay sir”, “bread please sir”. I notice a box of bread at the end of the truck. I hand the little boy a roll. Then where there was one hand there are now two. So I hand out two more rolls. Now there are four more hands stretched out toward me, so I give up four more rolls. Now there are six and then eight more hands. So I hand out more bread. The people inside the truck are telling me that we need to leave because it is getting late. Suddenly there is a hand around my right arm and then one on my left. Then there is a hand from behind and then I am in the truck.
As we start to leave we pass by a crowd of people. Some of them are cheering while others are waving. I hear some goodbyes and few more salamats and then we are gone.
Our trip out of the flooded area is a bit quicker since it is late and there is a lot less traffic. Once again we receive a free pass because of our escort and because of our mission.
Once we arrive back at the police station it is decided that we will all meet somewhere to eat. We are all thirsty, hungry, and tired. The restaurant of choice is Jolibees. This is the Philippines version of KFC.
When I receive my order and start to eat, I can’t help but wonder how easy it is for me to take for granted that I have the ability to eat anything that I want at anytime but that there were going to be many mouths tonight that would not be fed. Even though I finish my meal, it seems that it is a little harder to swallow than usual.
P.S. - At some point during the relief mission in Pasig a woman handed me a note. The note had her name and phone number. On it she stated that her daughter had scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and asks for help. When I meet Dr. Pipo Bundoc the next day and ask him if he could help he tells me “I can do this”. Once again our friends in the Philippines will come through.
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The work of Physicians for Peace to improve third world health care is vital to those in need. Find out more about our medical missions in the Philippines and how you can make a medical donation to support our international health programs there - visit www.physiciansforpeace.org
Dr. Ruffin (left) at the APROQUEN Burn Unit in Nicaragua.
Vivian Pellas, burn survivor and founder of the Association for the Burned Children of Nicaragua.
In recognition of its 20th anniversary, Physicians for Peace is honoring 20 Health Care Heroes in 2009, individuals who embody the organization's mission and goals to teach, heal, and empower both patients and caregivers. The Physicians for Peace Burn Care Program is a true success story in changing lives and building health care capacity for countries in need. We would like to honor Dr. Willcox Ruffin and Ms. Vivian Pellas as 20th Anniversary Care Heroes for their roles in the creation of this program which has helped so many individuals heal from the trauma of burn injury.
The Burn Care Program was conceived when Physicians for Peace founder Dr. Charles E. Horton, Sr. visited Nicaragua in 1992. Based on the medical education needs he identified, a team of plastic surgeons, including Dr. Willcox Ruffin, traveled to Managua and Leon in 1994. Dr. Ruffin, a devoted plastic surgeon, has served as Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at Eastern Virginia Medical School, Chief of Plastic Surgery at Sentara Hospitals, Chief of Plastic Surgery at the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, and Director of the Burn Unit at Norfolk General Hospital. He has helped countless patients through his work with Physicians for Peace, and now retired from medical practice, serves on its Board of Trustees.
His purpose on that first mission to Managua was to advance medical expertise in the management of burn care, and to upgrade patient care within a burn unit built by the founder of Asociación Pro-Niños Quemados de Nicaragua (APROQUEN), Ms. Vivian Pellas. Vivian, a burn survivor herself, has devoted her life to improving the quality of care for burn victims in Nicaragua. The facility Vivian Pellas has helped to build, with the knowledge and support of plastic surgeons like Dr. Ruffin, has been able to treat tens of thousands of patients in need. With partners like Vivian, Physicians for Peace has been able to help burn clinics in other Central American countries provide better care and prevention for burns.
The Burn Care Program has continued to grow and expand to include not only training and education, but the establishment of an international burn consortium. APROQUEN is now one of 19 equal partner organizations that comprise the Asociación Centroamericana y del Caribe de Quemaduras (Central American and Caribbean Burn Association) in six countries (Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.) This Association was formed in 2006 by Physicians for Peace and is dedicated to advancing pediatric burn care in Central America and the Caribbean through training, knowledge exchange, and global collaboration.
You can ensure that this program, started with the compassion and cooperation of Dr. Ruffin and Vivian Pellas, continues to help third world countries treat and prevent burn injuries and help burn victims heal. By contributing to our volunteer medical missions and international health programs, you help bring healing to a suffering world.
Ken Hudson, our Gifts in Kind manager, is currently in the Philippines helping out with our on-going programs there, which include Walking Free and Seeing Clearly. His first observations on the ground show why Physicians for Peace is there and the importance of the work of our volunteers...
"I was excited to be on my first mission since joining Physicians for Peace in May 2005, and looking forward to participating in a medical mission trip to the Philippines.
Doctor Montero arrived to pick up John Knight, John Knight’s dad, Henry, and myself and then we were off to meet Penny and Pipo Bundoc and Lyne Abanilla at Philippine General Hospital for a guided tour.
While I cannot do justice to what I saw with words or pictures I will do my best to provide an overall sense of what is being accomplished there.
The main focus of the tour was the prosthetics clinic where the bulk of the work for the “Walking Free” program in Manila takes place. While Penny and Pipo gave me an education as to their primary needs in the shop they also took the time to introduce some of their patients.
I met Lea Redreno, who suffers from congenital deformities on every limb. Lea is working at the “Walking Free” clinic, helping maintain it’s inventory and organization. Lea has a beautiful smile and a great personality even though she has suffered from many personal hardships.
Then I had the pleasure of meeting Herbert Renuda, who at the young age of 15 was being fitted for an above the knee prosthesis at the hip. While being fitted, Herbert displayed maturity beyond his years.
Then I met several young amputees that also had appointments at the clinic who all had positive attitudes and big smiles for everyone they met.
This is proof once again that the Physicians for Peace team and our great volunteers such as Doctor Montero and Lyne Abanilla continue to do great work.
After visiting the “Walking Free” area, Penny and Pipo decided to give us a tour through the rest of the hospital.
What I saw was something that I have never witnessed. I saw a hospital that is bursting at the seams. Wherever I went there were extremely long lines of sick people waiting for help. As soon as you walked into the main screening area you could see that the system was overwhelmed.
One of the scenes was of a woman leaning over her mother who was laying on a cot in pain. She was busily trying to use a paper fan to try to cool her while her tears were falling as she wondered what illness she was suffering from. I came upon another family that was trying to comfort a young girl that they had barely saved from slipping into a coma. Her supply of insulin had run out, and they were not able to get to Manila in time because of the recent flooding and landslides that had been caused by Typhoons Ondong and Ppepeng. The young physician in training assured me that her patient would probably recover, but that she had suffered a great deal.
Particularly troublesome were the number of very young children that I saw that were waiting for treatment. It is hard to say how many there were but virtually all available space was occupied. The illnesses of these children could range from the common cold to more serious illnesses.
Through all of this, the hard working and dedicated medical professionals like Penny and Pipo and our great volunteers Doctor Montero and Lyne Abanilla impressed me with their great attitudes and their hard work. This is the one piece of the thread that keeps things running at this hospital.
Additionally what was perhaps the most inspiring part of what I saw was to witness the strength and courage of the families that stood watch over their loved ones while waiting for help without a single complaint. I will never forget what I saw today, and this experience makes me want to do everything that I can to help the people of the Philippines."
You can join Ken in supporting our medical missions in the Philippines - Donate medical equipment or donate medical supplies to our Gifts in Kind Program, or make a monthly gift by becoming a Partner for Peace... To find out the many ways you can support our medical volunteer work, visit http://www.physiciansforpeace.org/ways-to-give.html
Dr. Josephine Bundoc (left) participates in the first national prosthesis Walkathon in Manila.
Dr. Josephine “Penny” Bundoc, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of the Philippines in Manila, is being honored by Physicians for Peace with its 20th Anniversary Health Care Heroes Award for her work with the organization’s Walking Free program. The success of PFP’s Walking Free program in the Philippines has been due in large part to her energetic and inspiring efforts. Dr. Bundoc works tirelessly to help the neediest patients in the Philippines receive prosthetics to replace lost arms and legs, and ensure ongoing physical rehabilitation to allow them to rebuild their lives with a sense of joy. In 2005, with support and supplies from Physicians for Peace and partners, Dr. Bonduc was instrumental in the opening of a new state-of-the-art Prosthetic and Rehabilitation Center at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and has played a significant role in the success of our medical missions in the Philippines.
Read more about Penny's work with amputees in these articles...
You can help support the work of Dr. Penny Bundoc and our international health programs in the Philippines. When you make a financial contribution or donate medical equipment or prosthetics, you are giving someone access to medical care and the hope of walking again. To learn more about Walking Free and our other programs in the Philippines, visit us on the web... www.physiciansforpeace.org
As Physicians for Peace marks its 20th Anniversary, we are proud to honor our founder, Dr. Charles E. Horton, the man who had the vision of using medicine as an instrument of peace around the world. He was, and always will be, our hero as we strive to carry on his dream of building peace and international friendships by caring for those in need...
A native of Missouri, Dr. Horton gained a worldwide reputation for his genius in plastic surgery and his role as a civilian diplomat. He received his undergraduate degrees from the Universities of Arkansas and Missouri and his medical degree from the University of Virginia. In 1955, following his plastic surgery residency at Duke University, he and his young family moved to Norfolk, Virginia, where he became the first to set up a plastic surgery practice.
In the 1960s, Dr. Horton embarked on one of his first medical missions – a trip to Haiti as a public service project for his Rotary Club. After the Haiti medical mission, he continued to develop personal contacts in medical schools in many parts of the world, and this network of friends formed the basis for Physicians for Peace. Dr. Horton and his colleagues were a group of humanitarians who believed that sharing their talents with others in order to heal the sick and wounded was more important than political or cultural differences because “when you hold a sick child in your arms, there are no politics involved." Through Physicians for Peace, Dr. Horton was confident that more doctors and medical professionals would carry on his important work of building peace and international friendships.
In an interview with Horton shortly before his death in 2006, he asked that “…everyone be reminded that Physicians for Peace was founded for one main purpose – the exchange of medical education between Physicians for Peace and the countries hosting our missions. Networking among medical professionals who became friends as a result of working together was the secret to the early success of PFP and remains my primary vision and goal for Physicians for Peace.” Physicians for Peace has continued to partner with hospitals and global health organizations throughout the world, sending more that 500 medical missions to over 50 countries.
All of us at Physicians for Peace are proud to be a part of the vision and legacy of Dr. Horton, as we remember him on this special anniversary. Come join us as we honor 20 years of healing work of Physicians for Peace at our "Celebrate the Nations 2009 Gala Reception!"
Above: Kissairis Rodriguez (left) proudly wears her "Madre Tutelar" vest as she pays a visit to
one of the young girls she mentors as a Resource Mother.
In light of today's New York Times article, "Saving the World's Women" I thought I would share with you a first hand account of how Physicians for Peace maternal and child health programs are healing and empowering women around the world. It is the story of Kissairis Rodriguez, a young woman in the Dominican Republic who evolved from a scared teenage mother, trying to make a life for herself and her child in the barrios of Santo Domingo, into a mentor for other young mothers living in poverty...
"When I was 15 years old I got pregnant and had my baby at the age of 16. When I find out I was pregnant, I felt that the world was coming apart. I experienced all the difficulties and dilemmas of being a pregnant teenager. Four years ago, when leaders of my community talked to me about a program for pregnant adolescents, and invited me to attend a meeting, I went to the maternity hospital and received all the information about the Resources Mothers Program. I got very excited thinking about the possibility of being a part of it, because I knew there were other pregnant teens out there, and I wanted to be sure they could receive the help they needed. I was selected and trained by the Physicians for Peace staff, who offered me employment as a "Resource Mother."
As Resources Mothers, we are part of our barrios - we live there and share our clients’ needs. Thanks to our training we can help young women keep away from drugs, alcohol, and tobacco - things so common in our community. We help them take care of themselves during their pregnancy, accompany them to prenatal check ups, and visit their homes, advising them and their families on how to have a healthy pregnancy. We also advise them how to eat well, even when there is so little to eat. We teach them how to nourish not just their bodies, but also their souls, so they can deal with all their worries and fears.
My experience as a Resource Mother has inspired me to go to the School of Medicine, and in a few years I will become a doctor. I am grateful to God and to Physicians for Peace for the opportunity to believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel, but most of all for the opportunity to become a better human being."
Kissairis' story shows how women around the world are making a difference in their own communities. Global health organizations are realizing that supporting maternal and child health programs is the most effective use of their resources. Physicians for Peace is part of this movement. Please help us to empower mothers in poverty with our Resource Mothers Program, Midwifery Training Program, VVF Surgery Program, and Prenatal Lifesaving Program.
Physicians for Peace is proud to announce the recipient of the third annual Charles E. Horton Humanitarian Award for Global Health: ONE.
ONE is a grassroots campaign and advocacy organization backed by more than 2 million people who are committed to the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. Co-founded by Bono and other campaigners, ONE works closely with African policy makers and anti-poverty activists to raise awareness and mobilize public opinion in support of tested and proven methods of tackling poverty and disease. Among many of its accomplishments, ONE was responsible for getting the G8 to direct an additional $25 billion in effective assistance to Africa by 2010.
“ONE is deeply honored to receive the Charles E. Horton Humanitarian Award for Global Health, an award whose namesake continues to inspire action and hope in the fight against global poverty and disease,” said Sheila Nix, ONE’s U.S. Executive Director. “Today, effective advocacy is more important than ever in supporting results-driven efforts that fight poverty, combat preventable disease, put children in school, and create economic opportunity for the world’s poor. As exemplified by organizations like Physicians for Peace, huge advances against disease and poverty are being made every day, thanks to smart programs and strong local leadership in developing countries. We are humbled to join the ranks of former award recipients Senator Bill Frist and Professor Jeffrey Sachs, and we thank Physicians for Peace for this honor.”
The Charles E. Horton Humanitarian Award for Global Health is bestowed in honor of the late Physicians for Peace founder, Charles E. Horton, M.D. Horton, an internationally recognized humanitarian, founded Physicians for Peace in 1989. Through Dr. Horton’s leadership, our organization has touched the lives of thousands of patients and doctors in more than 50 countries around the world.
“Dr. Horton was an articulate advocate for the vulnerable populations of the world,” noted Physicians for Peace President and CEO, Ron Sconyers, Brigadier General (USAF Ret.). “He used his voice to rally the medical community to take their healing and teaching skills where they were needed the most. ONE has been able to use its voice to help bring balance and stability to a world that has neither. We are extremely honored to recognize ONE for its many accomplishments in offering hope to those who need it most – the poor and the vulnerable."
ONE will receive the award during the Physicians for Peace "Celebrate the Nations" Gala Reception on October 3rd in Virginia Beach, Va. For more information about the Gala event, go to www.physiciansforpeace.org/events.html
To learn more about Physicians for Peace medical volunteer work and international health programs, visit our web site at www.physiciansforpeace.org
Dr. Fred Ward, a long-time Physicians for Peace volunteer, recently traveled to Libya to visit several hospitals and a medical school to identify education and training needs in a variety of medical fields. The following is part of Dr. Ward's report from Libya on the places he visited and the people he met along the way...
This morning we first go to Jamhouriyh (Republic) Hospital. The hospital in Benghazi is a 260 bed facility and the director is Dr. A. F. Zaied, a nephrologist. He was most gracious and made several phone calls to set us up to see others who he thought needed our help. He expressed needs for help in the following areas: pediatric nephrology, emergency medicine, congenital anomalies, and pediatric advanced life support.
Then off to LIMU, Libyan International Medical University. There we were greeted by Dr. Mohamed Saad Ambarek, an orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Ambarek was trained in England and Scotland. We have a very detailed tour of the campus. The organization is a private not-for-profit institution. They have had teachers from Italy, Germany and England. He says he would be most happy to add the U.S. to their list of those helping them to provide international health education. The school is of the finest quality and has all the basic laboratories, etc. He admits they have a lot of growing to do. They are in just their second year. In talking with Dr Ambarek we concluded that the best way to reach the largest number of physicians would be with a conference. They have a beautiful space which will accommodate 250 physicians. Their desires are: general medicine, medical curriculum, advanced life support, and nephrology. He presented me with a medallion for the humanitarian work that Physicians For Peace does.
Our first appointment on Wednesday is at Elfateh Children Hospital. We are greeted by the Director, Dr. Abdussalam A. Elshakmak. All the departments are well covered, but with minimal equipment. For instance, in the microbiology laboratory they only have two microscopes. They seem to have a rather high incidence of birth trauma, about 6:300 births. We saw three children in physical therapy who had upper extremity nerve damage. Two had had nerve transplant surgery and were doing very well. The PT people seemed very dedicated to their work. The doctor expressed an urgent need for teaching in genetic defects, especially metabolic defects. Also, there is a need for pediatric surgery, hematology, and nephrology.
On to Tobruk, our next visit is The Medical Center Batnan, a large complex which incorporates an older unit with a releative new section. The most impressive thing about the place is how clean it is in every respect. The medical director is Dr. Saeed H. Ali, a Koln University trained pediatrician and EEG specialist. The staff is very enthusiastic and we had a very long conversation with the head of the department of Obstetrics. They have about 45,000 births per year, which is astounding. They have many staff, but not enough and not well enough trained. We met a pediatrician who is from Egypt, who comes over about one a month for one week. The areas of interest at Medical Center Batnan: hematology, pediatric surgery, nephrology and genetic defects.
Thanks to Dr. Ward's visit, plans are now in the works for future medical mission trips to provide education for medical students, as well as specialized training to help doctors in Libya better care for their patients.
You can support the medical volunteer work of Physicians for Peace, improving medical care and building friendships around the world... Give today!
Sam Hill (above) has been an important part of Physicians for Peace for many years, raising funds to train thousands of medical professionals around the world.
We have honored several people this year as part of our 20th anniversary to thank them for their commitment to helping others. This month we have the special privilege to recognize someone whose tireless support and enthusiasm for our cause has not only helped people around the world, but has helped make Physicians for Peace what it is today. Dr. Charles E. Horton Jr., the son of our late founder, expresses our gratitude to Sam Hill for his dedication:
Twenty years ago, Physicians for Peace was founded by my father, Dr. Charles E. Horton Sr. Throughout his career as a doctor, he travelled the world, taking on difficult patient cases, training medical professionals in the latest techniques and, most importantly to him, making lifelong friendships with the doctors he worked with. From these experiences, he saw the possibility that international health education could be the key to bringing quality health care to the developing world. At the same time, he could be establishing and connecting long-lasting personal friends to foster peace between cultures through medical volunteer work.
This year, as Physicians for Peace celebrates its 20th anniversary, we are honoring 20 health care heroes, 20 amazing individuals or groups who have contributed to our success over the years. We are spotlighting doctors, nurses, board members, donors, supporters of all types -- a cross-section of the caring volunteers who made my dad’s vision a reality.
One individual who has been key to our success is Sam Hill, a close personal friend of dad’s who has been with Physicians for Peace practically since the beginning. In celebration of Sam’s birthday this month, he is our health care hero for July.
Sam has made significant contributions to Physicians for Peace in so many areas. First and foremost, Sam is one of those rare individuals who becomes lifelong friends with everyone he meets, and so he has been able to bring countless people into the Physicians for Peace family. Sam often talks about his lunches with dad, when they would put their heads together and figure out how to convert friends into volunteers, and volunteers into cheerleaders for the work of Physicians for Peace.
Along with my father, Sam has long been the public face of Physicians for Peace. In 1995, Sam became our Executive Director, and more recently served as Director of Development. He is a fundraising powerhouse who helped build Physicians for Peace into the global health organization it is today. Tapping into his vast network of friends and contacts, Sam has almost single-handedly brought in some of our most significant investors. He has also served his time doing hands-on work on mission trips in the Philippines and Haiti, all the better to explain the importance of Physicians for Peace international health programs to potential supporters.
Another close friend of my dad’s, Catherine Colgan, a long time board member and someone who has been with Physicians for Peace since the beginning, said of Sam, “He is a quality gentleman, humble to a fault, but everyone can see the strength and caliber of his ability. His people skills and networking ability make him an invaluable asset to Physicians for Peace.”
Congratulations to our July Physicians for Peace health care hero, Sam Hill! Sam’s devoted work with Physicians for Peace has directly resulted in the training of thousands of medical professionals in the 50+ countries where we have sent our volunteers. Over the past 20 years, these newly-trained caregivers have healed hundreds of thousands of patients in some of the poorest countries around the world.
You, too, can help Physicians for Peace continue to train medical professionals and heal the sick around the globe. This month, in honor of Sam’s birthday, you can give the gift of life. Please make a donation so that we can continue our healing work for another 20 years. Help us create a world of hope!
Looking for ways to help people in need? Ashley Mogul found a way to use her creativity to support Physicians for Peace international health programs:
"As a premed student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I have always been interested in the combination of community service and healthcare. Having come across this organization, I believe it is the perfect opportunity to do my part. I designed a shirt with the theme of "peace" in mind and am selling them for $18 with all proceeds benefitting Physicians for Peace. Please visit my web site to purchase a shirt and show support for medical volunteer work to improve third world health care."
Do you have a creative idea you can use to help Physicians for Peace? Email us at info@physiciansforpeace.org and let us know so we can feature you on our blog!
This year Physicians for Peace was fortunate to have Dr. Duffy Casey of Global Brigades working with us in his last year at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Having extensive medical mission experience, Duffy was an excellent correspondent and brought back great stories and videos of his Honduras medical mission with Physicians for Peace. The following is an excerpt from his travel journal:
Duffy Casey
Trip Diary
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Plastic Surgery Mission
Monday Jan 19th, 2009
I arrived in Honduras a couple of days ago. It’s been almost a year since my last trip down here, and more than three years since I left after living here. This is my first medical mission trip with Physicians for Peace, and I’m looking forward to working with Dr. Brody and the plastic surgeons at La Hospital Escuela. During my third year of medical school I spent several months in the operating room rotating with general, vascular, and pediatric surgeons, but I’ve never had the opportunity to work with plastics so this week is sure to be filled with new experiences and learning opportunities.
Dr. Brody’s plane touched down at noon and I was waiting for him at the airport with a sign but the arrival area is so packed these days we missed each other. After calling the in-country host and director of the plastic surgery residency program, Dr. Luis Gonzales, I arrived at La Hospital Escuela and met with Dr. Brody in the doctor’s lounge outside of the OR. After spending only a few minutes with the man I can tell his wealth of knowledge is only matched by his caring and generous nature. This is his second trip here in the last year. In the doctor’s lounge he introduces me to the 2 plastic surgery residents who insist on being called by their first names, Oscar and Carlos. We spend about 15 minutes together talking about our trips and sharing stories of international medical adventures around the globe before heading off to the floor to meet our patients for the week. Dr. Brody’s been awake for nearly two days straight getting here but is just as bright and anxious to get to work as I am.
Our group consists of three medical students, Carlos and Oscar, Dr. Brody and myself. We move from bed to bed and the residents and medical students take turns introducing each patient to us. The floor is divided into two sides, one for the men and one for the women. We start on the men’s side and find that of our 15 patients, 2 of them have facial cancers, 2 have broken jaws from gun-shot wounds, many have severed tendons from machete wounds, a teenager lost his arm in a coffee processing machine, several have burns on various parts of their bodies, and still others have broken facial bones from trauma. At the end of the men’s hall lies an elderly man, now 79 years old, missing half of his nose. He gets excited when he sees Dr. Brody, and when Dr. Brody comes to his bedside he greets him with a warm hug; his name is Don Filepe. They met in September of last year when Dr. Brody removed a very large Basal Cell Carcinoma from the man’s cheek and grafted the affected area. He knew the man would need follow-up surgery and Physicians for Peace and the Honduran physicians arranged appropriately. Dr. Brody is happy with the results of the first surgery and assures Don Filepe the follow-up surgery will yield even better results. On the women’s side most suffer from burns, some from cooking, others from fires, and one who had an accident with battery acid. After each patient is introduced, Dr. Brody asks us several questions about the diagnosis and treatment options. He’s patient when we don’t know the appropriate answers and encouraging throughout.
After talking with a few of the patients on both sides of the floor it becomes obvious that they all share one thing in common, they’ve been waiting for days or weeks for surgery. The residents explain that there just aren’t enough plastic surgeons for all the patients who need their help. They also explain that the X-ray machine in the hospital has been broken for some time now and that any images the patients have at their bedside were taken at a private facility outside of the hospital, paid for by the patient out of pocket. For the ones who need X-ray images prior to surgery but lack the funds for the private facility, they sit and wait in limbo while their friends and/or family search for a way to get the money together.
After a few hours on the floor Dr. Brody asks which patient we’re going to start on. It’s already starting to get late but you can see he wants to waste no time while he’s here. He understands the value of his time here just as much as the residents and wants to make sure he’s done all he could with the time he’s had. We head to the operating room together and begin working on the long list of surgery patients. When we get out, the sky is dark, we are all tired but happy knowing that this was just the beginning of what is sure to be a good week.
Tuesday January 20th, 2009
It’s 6am and I’m trying to build up enough courage to douse myself with another bucket of cold water. I’m staying in the same house I used to live in between 2003 and 2005. There is only running water a few hours of the day and I use a trash can to collect as much of it as I can, then in the mornings I dip a small bucket into it and toss it over my head as my make-shift shower. The water is colder then I remember it being and I transition from my state of still waking up to an adrenaline rush the moment it hits my back. By the time I’m through I’m wide awake and ready for another day at the hospital. I catch a taxi and arrive at the hospital at 7am. Dr. Brody has just arrived and is ready to get back to the OR.
Our first patient today is a 25 year old man who was shot in the face several days ago. His jaw is fractured in several places. Dr. Brody motions for the resident to stand close to him as he examines the panorex X-ray of the man’s jaw. They each go through pointing out where the injury is, which parts of the bone are most affected, and suggest ways to approach the repair. We continue the conversation as we scrub in together. Dr. Carlos acts as the primary surgeon and Dr. Brody carries the conversation throughout the surgery. He asks a range of questions from possible complications, anatomical structures, and post operative care. Dr. Carlos’s knowledge is extensive and he doesn’t miss a single question.
During the lunch break Dr. Brody and I pause to watch Obama be sworn in as the next president of the United States. It’s a historic moment in our country’s history and we’re celebrating in Honduras. The physicians coming in and out of the lounge each cheer or share words of support and encouragement as CNN broadcast continues.
The day continues and we are able to repair another patient’s broken jaw and place a much needed skin graft on a woman’s burnt leg. Each patient we work with is so grateful for the help we are trying to bring it makes the work fly by and encourages us to continue to strive to do more. After operating for 4 hours on a man who severed several tendons of his arm, we finish the day and leave the hospital around 8:30pm. The sun went down a long time ago, and Dr. Brody is still operating on a minimal amount of sleep, but you’d never know it by looking at him. He looks just as energized, excited, and happy as he did this morning.
Wed, Jan 21nd, 2009
I toss the first bucket of cold water over my shoulder at 6am and am instantly 100% awake. A triple shot of espresso couldn’t have done a better job of washing away any feeling of still being tired. I want to get to the hospital a little earlier today, so I scarf down my breakfast of fried plantains, beans, and tortillas and quickly hail a cab in front of my house in La Colonia Kennedy.
I head straight for the lockers and jump into my scrubs then walk over to the check-out counter where we get our face masks, hair nets, and shoe covers necessary to enter the area outside the operating room. After getting everything on I walk into our assigned OR for the day and get ready for a long list of patients.
Our first patient is a 22 year old male who was beaten in the face with a rock. The gang problem in Tegucigalpa has increased with the global economic collapse and with it injuries like this one are becoming more and more common amongst the hospital’s patient population. Dr. Brody goes through the educational process of question and answer, and brainstorms the options for repair with the residents, then begins with the surgery. The case is difficult and takes several hours to complete. By the end, however, the team seems satisfied with the results and Dr. Brody congratulates the residents on a job well done. As we head out to the hallway for a few minutes break, we see Don Filepe sitting patiently at a desk. Dr. Brody quickly makes his way over and greets him with a warm smile and hand shake. Don Filepe smiles as best he can when he sees Dr. Brody and me walk over. He’s been waiting since 7am and is anxious for surgery. Dr. Brody comforts him and lets him know he’ll be next.
Don Filepe’s surgery lasts the majority of the afternoon. His condition is unusual and the approach to repair his nose and lip is difficult. With the guidance of Dr. Brody, both Dr. Carlos and Dr. Oscar move from one step of the surgery to the next without much difficulty. It’s difficult to imagine how much this man has had to endure in his life and what would happen to him without the help of these dedicated physicians and organizations like Physicians for Peace. After hours of surgery everyone is pleased with the outcomes, and Don Filepe moves to the post operative care ward. We discuss the case as a group for another hour before each heading home. It’s past 8pm, and we’re all tired after another long day in the OR.
Thursday Jan 22rd, 2009
I arrive at the hospital at 7am and meet the team of medical students, residents, and attending physicians in the lecture hall. Dr. Brody has prepared several lectures for the group, and everyone sits with notepads ready, listening attentively and taking notes. They ask questions throughout, and Dr. Brody does his best to explain the intricacies of plastic surgery technique.
When the lecture ends, we head together as a group to the operating room. The first patient suffered from a burn to her leg more than a week ago. She’s been waiting for a skin graft and smiles as we enter the room. She thanks us before the surgery begins then again as she is wheeled out to the post operative care ward.
Today, Dr. Brody and I are surprised when Dr. Carlos and Dr. Oscar take us out for lunch. Dr. Carlos drives us in his car to a new restaurant in town and treats us to a wonderful Honduran meal. We sit around the table sharing stories from our experiences with patients in operating rooms around the world, and they tell us about patients who have stood out in their mind here in Honduras. We’ve all gotten closer during our hours together as a group in the operating room, and it’s nice to sit together and talk like friends outside of work.
After lunch we quickly return to the hospital and the operating room. Patients are waiting, and although we all needed the short break, everyone is ready to get back to work. Our next two patients are both men in their late 20’s with broken jaws. The surgeries are complex but Dr. Carlos and Dr. Oscar get better with each repair they do. It’s late by the time we’ve finished the second repair but the group isn’t ready to call it a day yet, so another patient is brought back and we do a quick skin graft before leaving for the day.
Friday Jan 23th, 2009
Today is Dr. Brody’s last day. His flight leaves around 1pm so we start operating early. Today we have one patient. The man in his 30’s is another patient Dr. Brody operated on in September. Apparently, he was kicked in the face by a horse 2 years ago and has received several surgeries since. Much of his tissue has been replaced by scar tissue which is currently preventing him from closing his mouth. We take him back to the OR, and after a couple hours of surgery Dr. Brody is convinced he will no longer have to suffer from this problem. He still has a little bit of time before he needs to be at the airport and schedules a meeting with two of the directors of the pediatric burn unit across the street. It’s amazing to see that he is always willing to do more, to see one more patient, to try and help one more person, regardless of how late it is, how little he’s slept, or if his plane is leaving shortly. This is the attitude I’ve found is at the heart of Physicians for Peace, and one of the elements of the organization that makes them so successful. It has been an amazing experience working with the talented and dedicated people at PFP, and I look forward to working with them more in the future as a medical doctor.
This blog entry was contributed by Dr. Nabeel Qureshi, a recent medical school graduate who served as an intern for Physicians for Peace in his last year at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Nabeel's contribution to the Resource Mothers Program was significant. As a student of psychiatry, he was able to provide training on two very important and difficult aspects of women's health - depression and domestic abuse. He had this to say about his experience:
"I made my decision to work with Physicians for Peace last year when I was being introduced to the fourth year MD curriculum. In the catalog was a section on "International Medicine". I talked with Dr. Paul Aravich and Jaya Tiwari, and I decided that a medical mission trip in international health education would be a great fit for my future medical endeavours. No matter what I end up doing in the medical field, I hope to take that knowledge and help people around the world.
Before starting work this March, I talked with Jaya Tiwari and Mary Kwasniewski, Directors of Global Health Programs at Physicians for Peace, and we decided that working with the Resource Mothers program in Santo Domingo would be a great idea. It had come to their attention that the women in Santo Domingo were having difficulty dealing with domestic abuse issues with their clients, and that they needed training with how to respond. I gathered information in English and in Spanish and put together a two hour workshop on domestic abuse training.
Before arriving in Santo Domingo, I did one week of medical mission work in Honduras. While there, I noticed that people suffering from depression received very little help, despite the pervasive effect this disease has on one's life. I began brainstorming on how this problem could be addressed, and decided the best place to start would be with diagnosing the condition and educating the people whom it affects. So when I arrived in the Dominican Republic, my focus became not only to identify domestic abuse and discuss it with the Resource Mothers, but also to determine the extent of depression amongst these women and their clients.
In Santo Domingo, I visited each client's home one at a time, documenting the location of the homes via GPS and taking pictures of the women standing outside of their residences. This was to help locate all the clients on a map to better serve them and to be able to show the work that Physicians for Peace is doing in a more tangible manner. I also wanted to get to know the clients and have a better understanding of their living situation. During this time, I also translated the World Health Organization's Major Depression Inventory into Spanish and administered it to the Resource Mothers. This inventory does two things: definitively diagnoses depression, and also determines the severity of the depression. Of course, the translation was not sanctioned by the WHO, but it was as good as we could do. In addition to the administration of the MDI, we also trained the Resource Mothers on depression and post-partum depression, as well as domestic violence.
Traveling to the Dominican Republic and working with Ramon Lopez, Director of the Americas for Physicians for Peace, was a great experience. My eyes were opened to the conditions of people who truly are in need, and also to my condition of luxury in the States. After spending a week visiting all the clients, I had no doubt in my mind that Physicians for Peace was doing an amazing service in their lives and the lives of their new children, a service that would continue to benefit these families for their entire lifetimes. I will not soon forget the stories, the emotions, and the relationships that I experienced in this vibrant and life-loving culture."
We thank Nabeel for his work in this area of need in and helping women understand and diagnose the disease of depression in an area of the world where this problem is often overlooked. Addressing the problems of depression and domestic violence is crucial to our mission of improving third world health care and helping mothers in poverty.
Natalie Lee, a Masters of Public Health student at Eastern Virginia Medical School, recently traveled with Physicians for Peace on a surgery mission to Jos, Nigeria, where she wrote about her experience:
When I stepped on the plane to embark on my first surgical mission trip with Physicians for Peace, I had no idea what to expect. I was anxious, nervous, slightly scared out of my mind, and excited all into one. Leading up to the trip, I had little time to mentally prepare for the challenge I was about to take on, so when I boarded the flight, every emotion in the book started to rush over me. Once I saw the team members, which would eventually become my family for the next ten days, all the anxiety and nerves began to melt away. It was strange to me that you could board a plane, sit there for 11 hours, and end up in, what felt like, another planet. The terrain, the language, the mannerisms, the clothing, the driving etiquette, the list of differences goes on and on. After about 15 hours of traveling, the team and I made it to our final destination of Jos, Nigeria.
We almost immediately got to work and went to The Plateau State Specialist Hospital, where the subsequent days of surgery would take place. It was nighttime on our first visit to the hospital, there was no electricity at the time and it seemed like patients were coming out of every corner. This first encounter was a bit overwhelming, I immediately noticed the poverty, and malnourished children, but the most striking and exciting observation was the hope in the eyes of all the patients, as if they knew their lives were about to be changed for the better.
We were able to change the lives of 43 beautiful patients and the gratitude that they showed us could fill the entire atmosphere. It was amazing to see a deformed baby go into surgery and in about an hour, come out even more beautiful than before. You could almost see how the path of their lives had been changed right before your eyes, as often children with such deformities live a life of ridicule and judgment. Cleft repair surgeries are very expensive for the citizens of Nigeria, and the quality is not always as high as one would like, so to be a part of an organization that was able to provide this procedure at top quality and at no expense to the patients is an experience that I will carry with me forever and the memories will never fail to bring a smile to my face.
Being thrown into a culture that is so different than the one you are accustomed to, is something that everyone should experience. For me, I grew to respect the culture, love the people, and become more appreciative of everything that I have been blessed with. I sincerely hope that many more PFP teams will be able to reach the forgotten cities with more medical mission trips to Africa, and many more patients will be transformed in the future. Medical volunteer work is one of those rare win/win situations, where the team, the patients, and every citizen of the world benefits.
More from Susan Palmer at the Burn Consortium Annual meeting:
At the conclusion of the second full day of international health education on pediatric burn care, there was excitement in the air - Samia Jarufe from Ruth Paz in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, said “there is so much information being provided…I’m so glad we brought a team of representatives to this burn consortium meeting…it was worth every penny."
Alba Rony, the psychologist from the burn unit in APROQUEN, Managua, Nicaragua, was leafing through the beautiful, professionally printed, glossy, full-color journal that she had just been handed and said excitedly… “look there I am!...there is my presentation!” This journal is regularly produced by the Universidad Santa Paula, but the University had devoted this whole edition to burn care and the lectures presented during the Burn Consortium - “Articulos Especiales Sobre Quemaduras Y Nuevos Medicamentos: Salud, Nutricion, Medicamentos, Tratamientos, Temas Culturales, Documentales Cientificos, Eventos Artisticos” Copies of the journal were provided to all the attendees.
In addition to Physicians for Peace and the many burn consortium partner organizations, many other global health organizations participated, including:
1. International Society of Burn Injuries (ISBI)
2. Federation of Latin American Burns (FELAQ)
3. USA: Shriner’s Burn Hospital, Houston
4. Chile: COANIQUEM
5. Mexico: Hospital Civil de Guadalajara
6. Argentina: Semillas del Corazon
In response to the recognized needs of addressing the interdisciplinary team approach to burn care, almost one full day of lectures was devoted to the psychosocial aspects of pediatric burn care. Topics included:
1. The incorporation of the family and the patient in burn rehabilitation
2. Music Therapy and the social reinsertion of the burned patient
3. Recognizing the signs of child abuse and neglect
4. Social rehabilitation of the pediatric burn patient
5. Pediatric post traumatic stress disorder
6. Teaching the pediatric burn patients while in the hospital
Tonight will be another business meeting of the Burn Consortium. They are voting in their first official Board of Governors and approving the policies and procedures developed over this past year. Excitement is high and everyone is talking about who will be president. Several names have been bandied about and tonight we'll know for sure!
Susan Palmer, Director of Global Health Programs and Volunteer Development for Physicians for Peace, continues her report from the Burn Consortium Annual meeting taking place this week in Costa Rica:
We started off the day with a video welcome by Ron Sconyers, president and CEO of Physicians for Peace, who was unable to attend in person, which was translated by Dr. Ramon Lopez. Then Dr. Ramon Lopez, as the Director of the Americas from Physicians for Peace, welcomed everyone back, saying PFP looks forward to working with them all in the future, and emphized the commitment by Physicians for Peace to continue supporting the partner organizations in the Burn Consortium. Nyra Gaspar welcomed everyone and said how happy she was to have everyone together in Costa Rica. Nayra thanked PFP and the other local organizations who had helped with putting on this consortium. This was followed by a welcome by the newest partner organization for the burn consortium, Lic. Rocio Valverde, President/Rector of the Universidad Santa Paula.
Then there was a special welcome from the Vice Minister of the office of the Minister of Health for Costa Rica Dra. Ana Morice and Dr. Jose Rojas, Director, Social Security of Costa Rica. Dra Morice officially opened the meeting and thanked the organizers of the burn consortium, in particular the host of this year's meeting, and commited to their continued support for this need. Dr. Rojas said he wants to continue to improve the skills and training of the people who take care of the burn patients in Costa Rica. They have been working with Nyra Gaspar and recognized her and all the tremendous work done by the Asociacion Pro Ayuda al Niño Quemado, APANQ, and then they welcomed all the countries represented.
There were over 100 attendees from all over Central and South America and the Caribbean (Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and the US) all waiting to learn and exchange information on burn care with their colleagues. Each of the Partner organizations presented, along with some key speakers from the International Society of Burn Injuries (ISBI).
The Exhibit Hall was also a success, as attendees spoke with distributors of burn related companies including education, fire department, pharmeceutical etc. This is truly an important event in international health education!
This blog entry was contributed by Dr. Nabeel Qureshi, a recent medical school graduate who served as an intern for Physicians for Peace in his last year at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Nabeel's contribution to the Resource Mothers Program was significant. As a student of psychiatry, he was able to provide training on two very important and difficult aspects of women's health - depression and domestic abuse. He had this to say about his experience: 
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