Fresno Bee, CA
Sept 8 2017


Valley physicians’ medical mission changes Armenian lives – and their own

By Jeffrey L. Thomas, M.D.
 3:34 PM

Three years ago, I was fortunate to be invited by the Fresno Honorary
Consul of the Republic of Armenia, Berj Apkarian, to participate in my
first medical mission to Armenia.

As our third annual medical mission to Armenia approaches this fall, I
would like to take a moment to reflect upon its meaning and the
accomplishments we have made.

Three years ago, a mixed group of physicians, dentists and other
medical and specialty personnel planned and set forth on the inaugural
mission with mixed expectations.

We are healers; we are teachers; we are ambassadors of our profession,
and this aspect of our existence is often lost in the day-to-day
battles in the practice of “first world” medicine here in the United
States.

We were welcomed with open arms by the Health Ministry, regional
hospitals, local physicians and a host of patients in critical need of
our services. The first week of our mission was somewhat of an awkward
dance, as our providers and the Armenian system participated in a
needs-and-skills assessment to best focus our resources.

Once established, we wasted no time in impacting the lives of the
Armenian patients and the medical community which supports them in our
absence. Although I am an obstetrician/gynecologist and will share my
experiences in women’s health, the specialties of internal medicine,
neurology, dentistry, public health and many others all have similar
stories to share.

On our second mission, we were surprised and honored to find an eager
and hopeful group of over 100 patients who had assembled outside the
hospital simply because they knew about our work the prior year.
Likewise, all of the local physicians assembled and observed surgeries
and procedures through which they acquire valuable skills and
contemporary knowledge.

For those patients who were not able to receive treatment or surgery
due to our limited stay, we only hope that the training of local
physicians and donated instruments will provide a legacy of care to
last throughout the year.

Perhaps the best illustration of this concept occurred on my final day
of the mission last year. I was performing a complex pelvic floor
reconstruction with a junior physician at a hospital in Gyumri.

As always, there was a group of four-five physicians observing the
procedure over our shoulders, one of which was a senior surgeon who I
had instructed on the same procedure on days prior.

As there is a language barrier and we rely on lay translators in the
operating room, there is an inherent delay in instruction due to
communication. To my delight, before I was able to have my
instructions translated, the senior surgeon was quick to instruct his
junior on the appropriate next step.

It brought me great satisfaction to know that our efforts would lead
to better patient care and outcomes long after our departure. It was
also rewarding to know that a donated piece of equipment which we take
for granted in America can vastly improve the quality and efficiency
of the medical practice in Armenia.

Similar anecdotes could be shared by all participants of our mission,
each reflecting the difference we made in the delivery of health care
in Armenia. It seems as though our efforts leave an immeasurable mark
on the country, but I would be remiss in not recognizing how such work
defines us.

Our missionaries will admit that something about the experiences
changes our perspective on medicine and how we practice. It helps
define and put in reference our true purpose in the practice of
medicine. We are healers, we are teachers, we are ambassadors of our
profession and this aspect of our existence is often lost in the
day-to-day battles in the practice of “first world” medicine here in
the United States.

At this time, our Armenian colleagues are assembling a montage of
patients who are in desperate need of our services. Upon arrival, we
will immediately embark upon operations and evaluations in all
representative specialties.

This does not happen without our generous donors and resourceful
mission participants combining efforts to provide over $1 million of
medical supplies and equipment, which have been taken in over 100
personal luggage pieces to Armenia.

We also respect the efforts of local and Armenian politicians who
facilitated the export and import of these items to maximize our
efforts abroad. After spending a total of more than a month providing
care in Armenia, this year’s mission will prove to bring even more
necessary and valued resources to a people in need.


Our mission respects the ongoing support of our sponsors. Unlike many
medical missions, ours has little to no direct monetary contribution
but prides itself on the delivery of needed patient treatment, skills
training, and technology used in the direct care of patients at the
bedside.

This is a community effort, so if you would like more information
regarding our upcoming mission or would like to contribute, please
contact Hconsularm@gmail.com or phone 559-696-0190.

Jeffery L. Thomas, M.D., is an obstetrician/gynecologist who has
participated in the mission during the past two years, and getting
ready for the upcoming mission. Thomas has been past president of the
medical staff at Community Medical Centers, and a member of the board
of trustees at Community Medical Centers.


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