|
Wednesday, 09 January 2008 03:35 |
|
The old adage has always been "...to know and understand me, you need to walk a mile in my shoes." But what about those who walk miles in other people's shoes, not by choice, but by necessity? Last night on Street Rounds we encountered a young man who followed a friend here from New Orleans and now is stranded without clothing, shoes, money or transportation. In an attempt to protect his feet from the cold and damp of a Morgantown winter, he had "found a pair of boots" that were at least serving the purpose despite the fact that they were too small and worn out. Through a heavy fog of inebriation, he talked about many things including his plans to hop a freight train to Arizona in search of better weather. When offered a pair of new boots and socks, he immediately launched into an expletive filled tirade of praise for our generosity. As we sat down together on the pavement to take off his old boots, one could easily see that his feet were dirty, macerated and blistered. Just having his very own, well fitting shoes, seemed to make the biggest difference in this man's outlook on life. Maybe the best lesson learned is that we all need to do a better job of walking through life in our own shoes... Dave Deci
Morgantown, WV |
|
Monday, 17 November 2008 11:18 |
 Welcome listeners of Fresh Air to the internet home of International Street Medicine. We are thrilled be featured on today's episode of Fresh Air with Terry Gross. From the NPR website: In 1992, Dr. Jim Withers began making "house calls" under bridges in Pittsburgh, Pa. — sometimes dressing as a homeless person to help earn the trust of the truly homeless. Other volunteers joined him, and out of their efforts grew Operation Safety Net, one of the nation's first full-time street medicine programs. It provides medical attention and case management to the homeless, and helps train medical professionals to work more effectively with poor and homeless patients. The nonprofit organization operates under the aegis of the Pittsburgh Mercy Health System, where Withers is a faculty member in the Department of Medicine.
|
|
Wednesday, 16 April 2008 14:03 |
|
This year's Street Medicine Symposium will be held in San Juan Puerto Rico. Taking this opportunity, I would like to introduce the Puerto Rican hosts of the symposium which I had the great honor to meet and work with during their yearly missions to Guatemala. When I met Dr. Chaco at the Houston’s Street Medicine Symposium I expressed my great desire to work abroad in third world countries. Without any hesitation, he invited me to join his crew "Iniciativas de Paz" on their annual mission to Guatemala to provide medical services to the indigenous community of Caribe Tzul in the highlands of the Petén region in Guatemala. How could I have refused? To do field medicine in the third world was what ignited and has sustained my desire to become a physician. It didn’t matter if the trip was in ten days and I was in the middle of my school exams and economically incapable to travel, I went. Ten days later I was in Guatemala City awaiting the arrival of the crew. I had no idea that these would be some of the most incredible people I was yet to meet in my life and that they would take me to such a tremendously remarkable place. |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Thursday, 04 October 2007 04:11 |
|
 One of the inspiring aspects of MUSHROOM Street Rounds is the ability to provide medical students with profound opportunities to connect with their own inner callings as a physician. The following student quote touches upon a struggle we all witness today in medical education. The author's refreshing insight, as well as his commitment to remain a compassionate caregiver, gives hope to us all.
Dave Deci |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
|
|
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next > End >>
|
|
Page 4 of 7 |
