What this physician learned from a medical mission

In August of 1991, I became a family practitioner in the United States Air Force and was sent to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. During my time there, I was asked to go on a medical mission. This experience struck me with the missionary bug to provide my talents and to care for others in another country. With medications that were near expiration date in USAF stock and due to the U.S. departure from the Philippines following the eruptive destruction of Mount Pinatubo at Clark AFB, we went out to a local barangay, village, and cared for the ill. It was an uplifting compassionate experience that started decades of trips to El Salvador, Kenya and Tanzania, Honduras, Uganda, and six more to the Philippines near Tuy, Batangas. Through all of these experiences, I felt compelled to give of my skills as a medical professional freely. In doing so, I received so much more from the recipients of my compassionate care by their reciprocal appreciation and compassionate smiles. In my willingness to serve others in needed regions of the world I have felt encouraged to labor better with similar medical love in my routine family practice back home in Owensboro, Kentucky. It makes me a more knowledgeable and a compassionate trainer of third and fourth-year medical students from Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine (KYCOM) who come to my clinic for their clinical rotations. Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A s...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Physician Primary care Source Type: blogs