September 3, 1999

Eric Krakauer, MD, PhD, had a life-changing experience when he went to Honduras in February to help villagers in an area devastated by Hurricane Mitch. Krakauer, who is associate director of the MGH Palliative Care Service and an attending physician on the Cabot Medical Service, was a member of a volunteer medical group organized by colleagues at BWH.

"This was a wonderful and enlightening experience for all of us," says Krakauer about the trip. "It gave us the opportunity and the privilege of providing service to those who need it most. The villagers we saw had no other access to a doctor."

One of the deadliest hurricanes to hit Central America, Hurricane Mitch left more than 6,500 residents dead, nearly 2 million injured and more than 600,000 homeless. Volunteer groups like the one in which Krakauer participated in give the residents help and hope.

The volunteer "brigade" of five physicians, three nurse midwives, two dentists, two dental assistants and four interpreters provided services to 2,500 patients in 10 villages over a five-day period. "We saw the littlest of babies, the oldest of the old and everyone in between," says Krakauer.

The group delivered health supplies, equipment and medications to the local health center. The US midwives also held a one-day training program for the local lay midwives.

Although this was his first trip to Honduras, Krakauer has traveled to other parts of the world to help medically underserved regions. "I plan to go again with this group," he says. "And I hope that other MGH staff – including physicians, house officers, nurses and dentists – will take advantage of this opportunity. It’s a chance to use your skills to serve others in a geographically beautiful and culturally fascinating setting. Service is what medicine is all about."

For more information about upcoming brigades to Honduras, call the BWH Medical Mission at 983-4242 or call Krakauer at 4-9197.