All my good intentions about posting from Africa met the realities of spotty, slow and
infrequent internet, and the need to process both the thousands of photos as well as all of
the new experiences in order to tell a story that makes sense. I am happy to say that I am
finally ready to embark on this “journey” with Margo Weishar.
Many of my patients and friends have been hungry to hear what this experience was like. I
meet with all kinds of preconceptions about what Africa might be like as well as the kinds
of medical problems that we would be encountering. Some expressed concerns were about
living conditions, health risks, insects, food, and danger. It is sometimes hard for me to
respond because this image is so far from the truth of our visit and may reflect the fact
that going to Africa as an American is a rare event, but one that I feel is enriching and
life affirming in ways that I never would have expected.
Our mission as part of Passion to Heal was to work with the healthcare initiative of Free
the Children, a Canadian based NGO whose model is to come into an area to “Adopt a Village”.
They then provide a “hand up not a hand out” by addressing several “pillars” of daily life-
improving and buildiing schools, providing clean water, teaching about sustainable food
sources, and providing basic healthcare. We were a group of 15- composed of dermatologists,
dermatology residents, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and nurses. There were
several representatives from the sponsoring companies in addition to the medical team. Our
backgrounds and ages were diverse and included a pediatric dermatologist, and a doctor who
had spent considerable time in Africa. For most of us this was the first time practicing
medicine in another country and culture.
infrequent internet, and the need to process both the thousands of photos as well as all of
the new experiences in order to tell a story that makes sense. I am happy to say that I am
finally ready to embark on this “journey” with Margo Weishar.
Many of my patients and friends have been hungry to hear what this experience was like. I
meet with all kinds of preconceptions about what Africa might be like as well as the kinds
of medical problems that we would be encountering. Some expressed concerns were about
living conditions, health risks, insects, food, and danger. It is sometimes hard for me to
respond because this image is so far from the truth of our visit and may reflect the fact
that going to Africa as an American is a rare event, but one that I feel is enriching and
life affirming in ways that I never would have expected.
Our mission as part of Passion to Heal was to work with the healthcare initiative of Free
the Children, a Canadian based NGO whose model is to come into an area to “Adopt a Village”.
They then provide a “hand up not a hand out” by addressing several “pillars” of daily life-
improving and buildiing schools, providing clean water, teaching about sustainable food
sources, and providing basic healthcare. We were a group of 15- composed of dermatologists,
dermatology residents, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and nurses. There were
several representatives from the sponsoring companies in addition to the medical team. Our
backgrounds and ages were diverse and included a pediatric dermatologist, and a doctor who
had spent considerable time in Africa. For most of us this was the first time practicing
medicine in another country and culture.
