young man who was suffering from medical issues related to his paraplegia that was caused by gun violence a few years prior . During our pre-op visit , it was clear he just needed someone to talk to , and even though he was sharing thoughts that had nothing to do with anesthesia , Dr . Adkins took the extra five minutes he needed , to stay and listen . You could see how much that meant to this young man and I am sure seeing her in the OR a little later was the calming force he needed to ease his anxiety .
The morning of my shadowing coincided with the start of incoming disaster relief requests to SOS for areas impacted by Hurricane Helene , so I had to cut my day short . We planned another shadow day , and I joined a few weeks later for a rotation in the Cardiovascular Surgical Intensive Care Unit . Rather than moving across an entire area of the hospital from pre-op to OR to post-op , we were working in one unit – booking fewer steps but dealing with much more serious patient conditions . The first experience was a physical marathon – the second was an emotional one . We began by reviewing the cases of each of the 15 patients on the floor and then the multi-disciplinary team assembled for rounds . Dr . Adkins carefully listened to each team member and spoke with each patient if they were well enough to converse , and then made the necessary modifications in the medical plan based on the patient ’ s status . One of the patients who we met was a young woman whose improvement was a surprise to many . She was admitted with compromised pulmonary function followed rapidly by renal failure . Dialysis was initiated and despite numerous treatments , her kidneys were not recovering . Dr . Adkins ’ intuition kicked in and she ordered continuation of treatment . Sometimes faith and hope , and a doctor who will keep trying despite the slimmest of chances , can defy the odds . Dr . Adkins ’ instincts were spot on , and the patient ’ s kidneys eventually recovered , giving this young lady a much better chance at overcoming her other medical issues . Again , she was a force of calm and comfort while clearly intent on providing the best care and achieving optimal outcomes for each patient . Watching Dr . Adkins ’ face light up sharing this story , I knew that these are the stories she lives and works for .
Shortly after my shadow experience , I traveled to Ghana to visit medical facilities supported by SOS , including the 264 bed Catholic Battor Hospital which is the area ’ s largest referral hospital serving over 1,000,000 individuals from five districts in southeast Ghana . Like Jewish Hospital , it is a place of life-saving care for residents in the region , but they are creating miracles of healing with fewer resources . The highly equipped OR with the latest technology in Louisville seemed almost space-age compared to a much more modest but functional suite in Ghana . The ICU at Jewish Hospital had enclosed private rooms while patients in Ghana shared a wing with curtain partitions . Most patients had a family member by their bedside , including older siblings sitting with younger ones in the pediatric ward when parents had to work , to help with basic care needs such as hygiene and meals – handling many of the tasks assigned to CNAs in our hospitals . Thanks to SOS hospital partners , including UofL Health , Baptist Health and Norton Healthcare , directing older but working equipment items to SOS , Battor had recently received critically needed items to advance medical care . I visited the nursery which now has a working infant incubator that is so in demand it is often shared by two babies at a time . I met the chief anesthesiologist who expressed overwhelming gratitude for the anesthesia machine we provided to open a second OR suite , thereby eliminating the need to prioritize patients when care was constrained by only one equipped OR .
Yes , the differences are stark but what impressed me was how much these two settings had in common . Both are filled with patients who are mothers , fathers , sisters and brothers with families praying for their loved ones to recover . And both were blessed with the brilliance and compassion of a remarkable female physician dedicated to their patients . Dr . Kandis Adkins , Jewish Hospital , and Dr . Felicia Akubire , Medical Director at Catholic Battor Hospital , are two physicians of about the same age who live thousands of miles apart but share the calling to heal , and deal with their own unique set of challenges . Ghana has universal health coverage which greatly simplifies documentation processes for Dr . Akubire . Here , Dr . Adkins must balance her time between patient care and rigorous documentation requirements – often having to complete this time-consuming task outside of shift hours . Dr . Akubire must balance patient needs with available resources . She is juggling saving babies with one incubator and grateful for a second OR that ensured her incoming patient with an amnio fluid leak was able to have an emergency C-section , saving both mom and baby .
These two physicians were mirror images of each other in many ways . I watched both speak with their nervous patients – putting their minds at ease by assuring them they would do everything they could to provide the best care possible . And they both live for those stories of patients recovering , sometimes despite the odds , which wipes away the exhaustion and frustration that comes with the territory . Despite differences in settings , they share a similar physician experience – doing their best to heal their patients - ensuring both their physical and emotional needs were being met – while meeting the rigors and challenges of the job .
My experience wearing the white coat followed by my travels to Ghana was a poignant lesson that regardless of where the delivery of care is in the world or what challenges must be navigated , great physicians , with their compassion and dedication , are the soul of health care . I am reminded daily of the interconnectivity of communities around the world – a shared humanity among doctors and patients across the globe . In every hospital and health care setting , regardless of where it is , patients are hoping for wellness and doctors are striving their best to deliver .
Denise Sears is the President and CEO of SOS International . ( non-member )
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