Surgery and Healing in the Developing World - Dartmouth-Hitchcock

To My Son, the Urologist
Figure 8. Rounding on the male ward in Bangladesh.
through cyberspace my practice now is worldwide, since I serve as a urologic consultant
to virtually anyone ‘in the trenches’. Then, too, the homefront can be impacted
by your mission as colleagues and friends mobilize to assist in what, in fact, is
a team effort. But, my experiences have taught again and again that the greatest
results transpire within me—personal growth resulting from challenges; a better
understanding of different cultures and people; an increased desire to advocate for
those desperately needy, though voiceless, ones around the world; satisfaction expressed
so eloquently in the happy smiles of patients treated as well as in the tears at
the time of departure from our national brothers and sisters. To paraphrase, service
IS its own reward.
Doug: Why do you serve in volunteer medical missions?
Dad:
This question is perhaps more important than any of those addressed above. Is
my (your) interest to sightsee? to experience adventure? to escape the monotony,
hassle and demeaning regulations of Stateside practice? to ‘pay my dues’ to the human
race? to gain a world view? to impress my colleagues with a concern for the
‘global village’? to enthrall co-workers with accounts of exotic diseases, strange (to
Americans) customs and dramatic experiences? Or, is it in response to the abundant
blessings from God upon America, in the domain of healthcare especially, a desire to
share out of our bounty with those in profound need that defies accurate description?
In my case, it’s the last of the list. Although in the recitation of possible
motives each is worthy to a point, only the last, in my view, will inspire and motivate
one to ‘keep on keeping on’.
51
6