Well I'm just exhausted....
Our conference today was amazing, inspiring, and thought provoking. I have to say though that Paul Farmer, the very man I had been anticipating hearing, was quite disappointing as a speaker. He wasn't dynamic or inspiring...he was just a man who, aside from doing some amazing things in the global health scene, loves to hear himself talk and loves to bask in the insipid comments and bright eyed admiring gaze of the medical students who make up his cult following (myself including I suppose). The highlight of my morning turned out to be a Case grad...Dr. Jack Geiger who told us amazing stories of his work to increase health care access and work against apartheid. As a young physician he organized a 2000 student walkout/protest b/c local hospitals were refusing to treat black patients, he developed a food program for his malnourished patients in clinics he helped set up down south by writing prescriptions for food for his patients and having the groceries bill the pharmacy for the food. He was simply inspiring in terms of the work he's accomplished both nationally and internationally. He was one of the founders of the organization hosting this event (physicians for human rights). after Dr. Geiger was a panel of 4 more amazing speakers. A fulbright scholar working on healthcare access in south Africa who told us about his first encounter with chronic poverty and medicine with dominican republic immigrants in Chicago and his fight to change the social determinants of health for his patients. We met a nurse who worked first with migrant workers in Indiana and in California who then became coordinator for a health clinic in Zambia at one of the largest refugee camps in the continent.

It was just mind-numbing to hear all these stories. All our goals and idealism for international issues of chronic poverty, social injustice, AIDS relief, and health care access for all seemed so tangible and potentially realizeable in these few hours. Here among us were physicians and healthcare professionals who have made a difference, who have fought for change and for awareness who seem to be making a dent in the world. 600 students attended, all wanting to contribute to our cause....not sure what to think, but I hope it's all good.

Everyone always leaves these conferences jazzed up for the next new cause, only to find "real life" awaiting them after the return trip home with schedules and timetables too busy to accomodate their new found idealism and fervor. I always get roped into more commitments than I can handle at these things. Thjis time though I did ok, didn't do too much networking...the only real new contact i made was Dr. W. Smith who heads up the International Rehabilitation Center and who is part of the Committee to ban landmines..he wants to meet with me to discuss possibilities for senting up a LandMine Rehab Program in the West Bank!!! So, exciting stuff :) time to get to work on that soon....

Well, I hope you all are well....I'll have to hear all about Rangeela soon :) ¶ 23:50