May 12, 2008. Sichuan Province, China was hit by a 7.9 magnitude earthquake. Human casualties are estimated to be over 71,000 fatalities with over 25,000 injured. Reports suggest that over 5 million people were left homeless and displaced (USAID, 2008). Dr. Jeff DeGraffenreid, featured speaker at the 2008 Disaster Management Symposium, was one […]
The world of medical missions has changed dramatically since Mother Teresa left for India in 1929. Nevertheless, today some 3 billion people still have no access to even the most basic health necessities. One of these is Jose Santos, pictured here in Angola. As an infant he was never vaccinated against polio and tragically acquired
Vast wealth and medical knowledge benefit the world’s affluent, while some three billion persons still lack even the most basic health care. In response, interest in selfless service among health professionals has never been higher. Jean Fields, RN, MSN, is one who makes international service an intimate part of her career. Says Jean,
The 2008 Exploring Medical Missions Conference is hosted this year by the Institute for International Medicine, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Foundation, Research Medical Center, St Luke’s Health System, the University of Kansas School of Medicine Department of Infectious Diseases, and the University of Missouri School of Medicine International Medicine Program. The Conference will be held on
Most health professionals dream of international service, but what motivates this ubiquitous attraction? For some, it is the reality of human suffering and a resulting sense of personal duty. Certainly the stark conditions of poverty, preventable disease, absent medical care, and needless death that affect developing nations are disturbing. Providing help is a moral
120 physicians, 146 nurses, 34 medical and nursing students and 50 others including pharmacists, dentists, therapists, and physicians assistants attended the Exploring Medical Missions Conference May 11-12 at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Representatives from 16 medical mission organizations were also on hand to recruit volunteers, including Health Care Ministries (AG), Operation Mobilization (OM),
Global attention is riveted on the HIV/AIDS crisis, and rightly so. The most threatening epidemic of modern times claimed 3.1 million lives in 2005 alone, and some 4.9 million people were newly infected. Most tragic of all is that HIV infects the most innocent of innocent: 15-30 percent of all HIV-infected pregnant women will
The practice of international medicine relies upon a core of knowledge that is essential for success in the field. Some courses already offer medical professionals a review of the diagnosis and treatment of “tropical” diseases, but rarely address the broader issues surrounding international health. Other courses touch of such issues, but are too lengthy in
The INMED Exploring Medical Missions Conference was held May 12-13, 2006 at Research Medical Center, Brookside Campus, formerly Baptist Medical Center. The very first of its kind in Kansas City, this conference provided health professionals with the unique knowledge needed to successfully serve in medical missions. The conference was hosted by INMED, the University of
Images of hurricane destruction along the Gulf Coast are rapidly being supplanted by ones of hungry, hurting victims of the disaster – many of whom are physically ill. Hospitals as far away as Denver and New York are filling with transferred patients suffering from dysentery, dehydration, and respiratory diseases. What does this crisis