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Medical Mission Work - The World is Calling: Part One
By Kathy Heizer, PHCS Director of Marketing
December 16, 2008
We live in trying times. This statement has and will continue to be stated by individuals from now until the end of time. Challenges and difficulties to overcome in life will always exist. It is how we choose to face them that defines us. There will always be people better off than you, but more importantly, and unfortunately, worse off than you—much worse than you. The question is, “How will you address them?”
Some people feel compelled to give loose change to a beggar on the street. Some will donate old clothes to an organization that serves those less fortunate. Some may volunteer their time to build a house, to serve food in a soup kitchen. There are many ways to help your fellow men and women.
There are many examples of good deeds that I could speak of amongst our group, but I wanted to tell you about a few of our physicians who take their medical calling to help others to another level—medical mission work.
Dr. Dave Keseg, Chief Development Officer for Premier, knows about medical mission work both close to home and abroad. He has been involved with the start-up of two free clinics in Columbus, Ohio. The Vineyard of Columbus Free Medical Clinic started in 1998, and he started a clinic in 2007 through the Vineyard Community Church. He has been on several overseas mission trips to such places as Santarem, Brazil for two weeks on a medical mission boat that went down the Amazon in 1991. Dr. Keseg traveled to Campur, Guatemala for a series of one-week trips to a small village to render medical care from 2000-2004. He also journeyed to Baja, Mexico in 2005 and 2006 to Door of Faith orphanage to render medical care to the orphans there, as well as to San Pedro de Sula, Honduras for one week to participate with a medical mission team in 2007.
We often talk about the life of a physician and the appreciation of the support of spouse and family. But what about family support for those who go on medical missions? Not only does Dr. Keseg have the support of his work by his wife and four children, they also take part with him. “My older daughter Kendra has attended all 4 years of my trips to Guatemala. My older son Luke has attended two years. My wife Jeannie and children Logan and Emma went to Baja, and Logan went to Honduras with me.”
“I consider it a gift from God to be so fortunate to have been able to become a doctor. In order to honor Him and to use that gift to help bring comfort to other less fortunate people is a privilege not many people get to experience. In a way it is selfish because I am always much more blessed by being able to go on these missions than the little blessing my involvement may bring,” says Dr. Keseg of why he feels compelled to do medical mission work.
Dr. Jana Banks, Assistant ED Medical Director at Fayette County Memorial Hospital, recently made a trip to Honduras with Dr. Keseg. She has several reasons to feel the need to participate. “I do mission work because I have a strong need to give back, to share, to lift up those less fortunate. We, in the US, are abundantly blessed and really have no idea we are because we have nothing to compare our blessings to. I have been privileged to go to Honduras three times now and will continue to go as long as my strength allows (and they continue to invite me). I go with a group of Salvation Army folks.”
Dr. Banks’ family not only shows their support for her trips, she says, “My entire family is anxious to accompany me on the trips, and I have already taken two of my nieces with me.”
Dr. Lisa Ward, ED Medical Director for Upper Valley Medical Center in Troy, Ohio, knew in her heart that she needed to help the people of Honduras. “I grew up in a third world country, Panama, and always knew that I needed to give back. When this opportunity arose, it just made total sense because I can communicate with the Honduran people in their native language of Spanish,” says Dr. Ward.
“I’ve traveled on medical missions to Honduras for the past five years and continue to respond to the same area, a remote mountain village called Robledales. We have a ‘family practice’ type of clinic that we set up just once a year for these people who do not have adequate medical access. We partner with Heart to Honduras, a national organization based in Xenia, Ohio and provide ‘help for the hurting,’ one of their missions,” continues Dr. Ward. In addition to her out-of-the-country trips, she volunteers locally four to five times a year at Health Partners Clinic in Miami County to provide free care for those without medical insurance.
When asked about the support Dr. Ward’s family supplies, she responded, “My husband Kerry supports me wholeheartedly, most importantly by keeping our household running smoothly while I’m gone. Most recently, I was able to take our 10-year-old son Kevin to Honduras for his first mission trip. He was able to help build a house for a family, assisted me in our medical clinic, and communicated with the village children through the universal language of soccer.”
I think the rewards of doing such mission work from a missionary perspective, medical perspective, or both are probably obvious, but what does each of our physicians have to say? Dr. Keseg responded, “The rewards are too numerous to list, but they include being exposed to a different culture, seeing some positive impact from your efforts in a single person or family, being able to share the love of Jesus in a tangible form, and showing your children that there is a whole different side to life.”
Dr. Banks adds to his sentiments by saying, “The rewards are many. I always feel as if I take away more than I give. I get to help people who have no sense of entitlement, practice medicine without paperwork, and remind myself why I went into medicine in the first place. I find smiles and hugs and caring are stronger than pills.”
Finally Dr. Ward expresses her rewards as being, “A sense of fulfillment, of helping others, making new friendships/relationships, an appreciation for the health and well-being of my family, a renewed sense of purpose, making a difference (albeit small).”
When asked what he would tell other physicians or other people about making a difference and volunteering, Dr. Keseg replied, “Even though you think you have no time to do it, once you do, you will see how very valuable it is in your life and the life of your family. Look for opportunities, and make it a family endeavor to get the very most benefit. Dr. Ward recommends that you “get started volunteering locally and then globally. We can all make a difference.” To quote Margaret Meade: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Drs. Keseg, Banks, and Ward’s stories are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the compassionate, selfless giving of one’s time and energy toward helping others. There are many, many more of your stories out there that would hopefully serve to inspire and motivate.
This is part one of a two-part story, which will conclude in our third quarter issue. Make sure to read about one of Premier’s own who fulfilled a life-long dream to do medical mission work with his family.
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