Physicians for Peace Celebrates the Nations!

Physicians for Peace held it’s annual “Celebrate the Nations” Gala on October 4th, 2008, at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. The evening started out with a VIP reception where guests from many countries who are involved in the work of Physicians for Peace were able to meet and mingle. Among the distinguished attendees was Senator Bill Frist, M.D., this year’s recipient of the Charles E. Horton Humanitarian Award for Global Health; as well as The Honorable Abdoulaye Diop, Ambassador from Mali; Domingo Nolasco, Minister and Consul General of the Philippines; and Meyera Oberndorf, Mayor of Virginia Beach. Also during the reception, Physicians for Peace gave special recognition to Hampton Roads area hospitals for their support of our mission work.

Then the evening got under way, and we all enjoyed an exquisite, Latin-inspired meal and mariachi serenade. The program, hosted by Kathryn Barrett of WVEC-TV, included the our first annual Volunteer of the Year Awards, as well as a performance by Latin Ballet of Virginia. Physicians for Peace Board Member Morgan Davis captivated the crowd with his charm as our very own auctioneer while raising money for our cause. An inspiring speech was given by Former Senate Majority Leader, Bill Frist, M.D., a leader in the quest for sustainable healthcare solutions for the developing world. Journalist Kate Bohner was also honored for her work in raising awareness about Physicians for Peace through video and the internet, receiving the President’s Award for Special Achievement. The award was in response to Ms. Bohner’s recent trip to Nigeria with Physicians for Peace where she began work on a documentary, “Ten Million Tears.”

 

The winners of the Volunteer of the Year – Medical Diplomat Awards were as follows:

Physician – Dr. Ed Lilly, Gastroenterologist
Health Professional (Non-physician) – Brenda Raymo, Dental Assistant
Mission Support – Stephen Katz, Photographer and Videographer

In addition, three Physicians for Peace volunteers received honorable mention for their work. These honorees are:

Mark Helbraun, MD, Colo-Rectal Surgeon, Closter, NJ – Physician Volunteer
Evan Epper, RN, Hackensack, NJ
Dino Scanio, Pediatric Orthotist, Tampa, FL – Allied Health Professional (non-physician) Volunteer
 
“Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization,” noted Physicians for Peace President and CEO Brig. Gen. Ron Sconyers (USAF, Ret.), “and this skilled group of men and women exemplify the best of our organization. The time and dedication they have brought to our activities are critical in carrying out our mission to bring medical care to underserved populations around the world. We hope to be graced with their contributions for years to come.”

The evening continued with a presentation by Altagracia Luna and Kissairis Rodriquez, two Resource Mothers from the Dominican Republic, who traveled here to tell their stories of helping young women in need get access to prenatal care and education. Read more about their visit to the US.

The event finished up with a pinata and dance band with everyone celebrating the nations in style. We truly thank all those who attended for supporting the mission of Physicians for Peace, as well as our sponsors and volunteers for making this event possible. We are already looking forward to next year for Physicians for Peace’s 20th anniversary! So mark your calendars now for October 3rd, 2009, and join us to Celebrate the Nations!

Dominican ‘Resource Mothers’ Visit US

 

“Resource Mothers” Altagracia Luna and Kissairis Rodriquez of the Dominican Republic visited the United States for the first time last week on a trip to Physicians for Peace headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia. Altagracia and Kissairis have played an important role in establishing the “Resouce Mothers” Program in the Dominica Republic with the support of Physicians for Peace. During their visit, they were able to tour a local children’s hospital and meet women who do the same type of prenatal education and mentoring here in the US. In turn, we benefited greatly from learning about their experiences in working with mothers in need:

 

“As Resources Mothers, we help the people of the barrios we live in. We go out into the barrio, door to door, and find girls who are pregnant, and need help and advice. We are trained to teach young women about all the ways they can have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy happy baby. We help them keep away from drugs, alcohol and tobacco, which are common in our community. We accompany the girls to their prenatal check-ups, visit them at their homes, and advise them and their family how to have a healthy pregnancy.  We also advise them how to eat well, even when there is so little to eat, because of their poverty.  We help them to learn how to nourish not just their body but also their soul so they can deal with all their worries and fears.”

 

“All of us Resource Mothers are thankful for the opportunity to be part of this program. Every day, I thank God and Physicians for Peace for the chance to help my neighbors and my barrio. We feel that we are changing the lives of the girls we help. We are changing the lives of so many people for the better. In the first year of the program, 94 healthy babies were born, and we feel like we are a part of all of those families. And it has changed our lives as well! The Program has motivated me to go to Medical School in the Dominican Republic. In a few years I am going to be a Doctor. Thank all of you for making all of this happen.”

 

Their compassion and dedication is an inspiration to everyone at Physicians for Peace, and we hope they will come visit us again soon!