By Howard Sachs, MD, PhD
During our last Tuesday a. m. discussion group, Ester B. happened to mention that her granddaughters were planning on going to medical school, and thereafter, joining “Doctors Without Borders.” (DWB). This evoked many exclamations of “Ooh, how fine and admirable.” The DWB sounds very glamorous and has had a good press, but there are many hard questions to ask before embarking on such a career and being dropped in some third world country with a group from DWB.
I began medical school at age 47 with the ambition to eventually work in third world medicine. I have worked in about 8 third world countries, which I located on my own, and who invited me to come and help out in my areas of expertise. In these countries I taught clinical neurology, Biochemistry and engaged in general medicine. But if I had to do over again, I most certainly, would have gone about it differently. My advice then to these girls would be: find out where the DWB is planning on sending them, what are there principal needs? If it’s infectious disease, then take your residency in Infectious Disease, if it’s trauma or wounds, get to do lots of surgery, what do these people think causes disease, do Shamans treat them currently, learn something of their religion and culture, language. What are their real needs at the moment? Perhaps your weight in a suitcase of antibiotics, or sterile supplies would be more useful then your presence, although not as self satisfying. Also, many of these places are near the most exotic and wondrous parts of the world. Therefore bring a backpack, canteen and only what you can carry. Plan your trip for when your work is up, will you be near the Himalayas, the Taj Mahal, Machu Pichu, or Antarctica? – Good Luck
P. S. Keep a daily diary
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