Bucks Montgomery Physician Summer 2021 - 13

my abilities. But the work in Haiti, oh my, it filled a gap so large
in my heart with tears of compassion, tears of joy and the pain
of suffering ever unresolved all around me. Poverty at its worst
seen everywhere gave a perspective impossible to imagine
until you have walked the streets, held the arms, embraced the
children and learned to feel for your patient in a way we rarely
get to experience in the United States. Yes, poverty is here too,
but my God what we see in Haiti is so different.
We have a saying in mission work - if you measure your
satisfaction by positive outcomes (as we do in the U.S.) then
you will be sadly disappointed. After each mission trip it would
take weeks to recover from the emotional trauma. The work
here in the States seems so small relative to that of serving the
poorest of the poor, not because it is easier here. In fact, it is
much harder here with so many options, resources and expectations.
What is very different is the appreciation you receive in
mission work for the small and seemingly insignificant things
you can do.
My whole perspective changed however after the Covid
pandemic of 2020-2021. While some of my colleagues closed
for fear of the unknown, our office was open for full service at
all times. Our hospital community jumped to attention with
tents, Covid units, research protocols, daily news reports and
guidelines that all changed daily if not hourly as we learned
more about the disease and how to control, manage, prevent,
and treat it. The drive to serve was overwhelmingly felt in
everything that was happening around me and my community.
I never felt so alive here in the United States of America. I was
never prouder of my profession and of my community. Our
patients were scared and very appreciative for the help.
What a privilege it has been and is to be a physician or health
care provider in a pandemic. You have something wonderful to
offer even when you have no cure. You have a service demand
that is not determined by payment schedules, coding numbers
and insurance companies but is solely determined by the
sickness that surrounds you. Your work is appreciated. Your
reward has nothing to do with payment.
It has been a very sad time to see so much disease and so few
tools. Yet is has been the greatest privilege in my life to be
present, healthy and able to serve during this time in the world.
I sincerely pray that all healthcare providers have the opportunity
to feel that overwhelming satisfaction of a life of service.
There is no greater gift a career could provide.
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BUCKS AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETIES 11
Bucks Montgomery Physician Summer 2021

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