Over this last week I’ve been writing my 2010 INMED theme address – one that I’ll make to about 15 universities and residency programs throughout the Midwest this spring. “Serving The Forgotten” is not only the theme for the 2010 INMED Exploring Medical Missions Conference, but after detailed consideration the INMED Board of Directors chose to make this part of INMED’s mission statement as well. I am struck by the fact that some of the most forgotten people are those afflicted by natural disasters – ones that go totally unnoticed! For example, the Indonesia Earthquake in September, 2009, affected 600,000 people, killed 1,177, caused $2 billion in damage – and in North America we never even noticed! Another unnoticed disaster: Nigeria’s meningoccal epidemic Spring 2009 sickened 35,000 people, killed 1,701. Can you imagine the attention if this occurred in North America?