DR . WHO
( continued from page 33 ) winter ( summer below the equator ) on a small boat with approximately 100 other people . He lives with them for two to three weeks at a time as the only physician aboard , and is responsible for any type of medical care required .
“ When we ’ re out on the boat , we ’ re so remote that a 48-hour sail is required to get to the nearest extraction point . We don ’ t have blood work or x-rays , it ’ s just me and the medicine ,” Dr . Orthober explained , mentioning that in those 12 years he ’ s not had any adverse outcomes .
“ There have been minor breaks and lacerations but nothing major . However , the risk is always there . There are all ages of people from young kids to 80-year-old gentlemen , walking on ice and other things that can hurt you . My job is to be with them during the entire voyage as we tour this wild land .”
While Dr . Orthober is technically working from start to finish on this voyage , he still gets to take in the breathtaking Antarctic scenery . “ You ’ re exploring the last untouched area on Earth in an amazing environment . It ’ s the most unexplainedly beautiful spot on the planet .”
Dr . Orthober takes pride in the fact that he ’ s practiced medicine
on four continents . He ’ s operated as a primary care physician on multiple medical service trips , traveling to Ecuador with the University of Louisville and Kenya with Western Kentucky University .
Back here at home , Dr . Orthober was hired full-time by UofL in 2010 and was offered the position of Medical Director for Louisville EMS in 2015 . He explained that the job can be divided into three components : The first is hands on , being with street crews and making emergency runs ; the second is administrative duties , completing quality assurance and planning protocols ; the final component is representing the service in city politics and in front of the Metro Council as needed .
“ I by no means run EMS . It ’ s a great big team of which I ’ m the medical director ,” he explained , noting that most of his work as medical director is done during his administrative time as UofL faculty . “ The hospitals require clinical shifts and then administrative time where physicians can apply themselves where they ’ re interested , serve on committees , etc . My medical director work comes from that time . It meshes . I work hard and play hard .”
And play hard he does . Dr . Orthober is an experienced traveler ( continued on page 36 )
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