Doctors Without Borders

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

LSU-Tech

Member
10+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
Joined
Apr 28, 2005
Messages
79
Reaction score
0
Can DO's participate charitable organizations like Doctors Without Borders?

Members don't see this ad.
 
Come on! Someone has to know something.
 
LSU-Tech said:
Come on! Someone has to know something.

Of course they can!!! Do you think a destitude farmer from Ecuador cares? Or some hutsu or tusi in Africa is going to worry about whether his care provider is an MD or a DO? I doubt it!!! Only premeds worry about such nonsense! 🙂

T
 
Members don't see this ad :)
LSU-Tech said:
Can DO's participate charitable organizations like Doctors Without Borders?
yup they can
 
LSU-Tech said:
Can DO's participate charitable organizations like Doctors Without Borders?


My understanding is that if Osteopathic Medicine has not been reconized in a country, the easiest method to assit is under the auspices of an organization such as Doctor's without Borders. Otherwise, the invdividual osteopathic physician must tackle the task of negotiations with that government's medical board or governing agency that regulates medicine in that country for the proper licensure or approval. (Say that last sentence in one breath 🙂 )

As nate and mddo2b have answered in such an eloquent and succinct manner, Yup. 🙂
 
http://www.oucom.ohiou.edu/currents/archives/2002-2003/jan-feb/Doctors Without Borders.htm

Daniel F. Dickriede, D.O., a member of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning humanitarian relief organization, Doctors Without Borders, and a 1987 graduate of Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, presented “International Medicine: On the Medical Frontlines” on Tuesday, Dec. 3, from 5:15 to 8 p.m. in Irvine 194. The presentation was sponsored by OU-COM’s International Medicine Club, with help from the Dean’s Office, Office of Alumni Affairs and the Centers for Osteopathic Research and Education.

Dickriede, an emergency room physician based in Cleveland, discussed what it’s like to be a doctor performing medical relief work in the Third World.

“One of the reasons I went to medical school was to pursue international medicine,” said Dickriede. He said he was inspired by his brother, who worked in the Peace Corps and is currently an African foreign affairs analyst for the U.S. State Department.

“Doctors Without Borders is one of the first relief organizations into war-torn or naturally devastated areas and one of the last ones out as well. We try to work with military precision, although often clashing with governments because of our commitment to neutrality. We’ve provided medical aid to more than 80 countries across the globe,” he said. Doctors Without Borders is also well known as Médecins Sans Frontières or MSF. Dickriede joined the internationally known organization in 1992.

Founded in 1971, the French-based Doctors Without Borders specializes in providing emergency medical assistance to crisis spots in underdeveloped nations or areas. The organization has 18 offices worldwide and each year sends more than 2,500 volunteer professionals, including physicians, nurses and other health-care specialists, logistics experts, water and sanitation engineers, and administrators, to sites of disaster.

Dickriede made his first international relief trip in his fourth-year of medical school, traveling to Philippines with Direct Relief International. His international relief work continued when he signed up for a six-month commitment to Doctors Without Borders. That “six-month” commitment ended 2 years later.

Spending the bulk of the two-year stint in Africa, he worked in north Uganda, Rwanda, Zaire and Somalia. His work included treating refugees and setting up a health-care system that could serve thousands of refugees.

Dickriede found that the practice of international medicine has some inherent challenges as well, such as language barriers. A native English speaker with some fluency in French, he learned that creativity in communication was a crucial part of his treatment of Third World refugees.

“In one situation, we found that every tribe had its own dialect, and sometimes we would have to translate through a dialect that was several tribes removed from that of our patients,” Dickriede said. “We had to try to find someone to translate or just use signs — but that was half the fun.”

“I went on three exploratory missions to countries to assess the need for Doctors Without Borders assistance, including to Rwanda, during the genocidal conflict, and to Zaire, during a meningitis outbreak, and I’ve gone on a relief mission involving a cholera outbreak Afghanistan,” he said.

Dickriede also worked above the Arctic Circle, accompanied by his wife, in Alaska for 6 months, serving 15 Eskimo villages in an area the size of Indiana.
 
Top