The horrific recent videos of murders allegedly committed by the Islamic State In Iraq and Syria (ISIS) are deeply disturbing and provocative. They remind me of how very great is the potential for humans to willingly instigate and participate in great evil. As youngsters, the neighbors of these assailants surely could not have imagined them […]
Why is Ebola such a concerning crisis? The fact that this is an unusual disease sparks intrigue. That it is contagious from person to person engenders particular alarm. But while I empathize with those who are ill, we also do well to consider the broader picture of health on the African continent. My colleague
Kent Brantly’s gradual recovery from Ebola infection is heartening news, for many people across North America are quite inspired by the example of his courageous medical care on behalf of the thousands in West Africa who suffer from this disease – one that carries an eighty percent risk of death. Clearly Dr. Brantly’s sudden
Why is international healthcare so uniquely challenging? The truth is that any healthcare that involves crossing cultures and few resources – regardless of location – may be uniquely challenging. What other challenges are involved? Please choose from any of the following: 1. Diseases are largely preventable 2. Professional peers are often unsupportive 3. Diseases
“Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Indeed, yet how rarely is contentment mentioned as a measure of wealth or success. Of course contentment is difficult to quantify, especially for an outsider. Psychologists can usually only resort to simply asking individuals to rate their level of contentment on a numerical scale from one to ten. Nevertheless,
You overcame the odds against you. For years you focused on education and service, and have excelled in your profession. And now you may be enjoying the blessings of mid-career: financial reserve, respect among your peers, children who are thriving and departing the nest. You are mid-career and pondering where to go from here.
Today the INMED office is bustling just seven days before the 9th annual Exploring Medical Missions Conference. Micah Flint is online diligently designing the evaluation form for feedback from Conference participants. Cindy Obenhaus and Liz Burgos are printing the name tags of conference participants, including each person’s personalized event schedule. All day long our
My dear friend and respected colleague Hayley Stolzle, MPH, a graduate of the Kansas University School of Public Health, in 2011 took her skills to the southern African nation of Botswana. In concert with the Peace Corp, she began serving the Botswana Ministry of Health in delivering to 12 villages health education on teenage pregnancy, sexual abuse,
At the 2014 Exploring Medical Missions Conference next week it’s my honor to present the 2014 International Medicine Award. Abigail Rattin, MD, MPH, is Medical Coordinator of Action International Ministries. A family physician with public health training at University of Massachusetts Amherst, since 2010 Dr. Rattin as been living and serving in the nation of Uganda, eastern
I was on hand at it’s national meeting today when the Group on Global Health of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine recognized INMED with the Gabriel Smilkstein Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Growth and Development of Family Medicine Education Throughout the World. The intent of the Award, named for an academic physician with service in