What You Went to School For

Ryan Hankins, executive director of M-POWER Ministries, doesn't have to guess why physicians volunteer in M-POWER's free medical clinic. "What I hear most often is, 'This is what I went to school for,'" Hankins said. Edwina Taylor, executive director and founder of Cahaba Valley Health Care, hears the same comment from her volunteers providing free dental and vision screenings. "The reason medical professionals got into medicine was to take care of people. A lot of that time gets lost," said Taylor, with itemizing staff, insurance, overhead and malpractice stressors. "Here you can do a mission trip and be home by dark." Local mission trips are becoming increasingly common in Birmingham, with volunteers protected from malpractice lawsuits by the state's Good Samaritan laws. Although many medical ministries are faith-based, those surveyed are open to volunteers of all backgrounds. Birmingham's service opportunities are as varied as the needs, but each is attuned to physicians' time constraints. Here is a partial listing of local opportunities, each designed "to do what you went to school for:" Cahaba Valley Health Care Dentists, optometrists, ophthalmologists and their staffs provide dental/vision screenings for the Hispanic community on designated Sunday afternoons. Four Cahaba Valley staff members coordinate about 800 rotating volunteers, each working only once or twice a year in 13 area churches with Hispanic members. Speaking Spanish is not necessary. At least four professionals treat an average 50 patients in each session. Contact Cahaba Valley at 991-8771 or e-mail ComfortNrs@bellsouth.net. M-POWER M-POWER's volunteers provide acute care for the underinsured or noninsured in their 4th Avenue South clinic on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Brookwood gastroenterologist Dr. Tim Denton organized the clinic in 2000. Here professionals can either work their specialty or become generalists, treating diabetes, high blood pressure and other concerns. Hankins notes a "huge need" for dermatologists and occasionally, orthopedists and gynecologists. Their dental services, scheduled by appointment, are booked through February. At least two doctors see the average of 20 patients per session. "We have a list of doctors so no one becomes overburdened," Hankins said, explaining that specialists can work in the clinic or take referrals in their offices. Groups may also adopt sessions. Churches, hospital teams and others volunteer to staff specific days. Office help is also needed, and the clinic welcomes donated samples and supplies. To learn more, log onto mpowerministries.org. Urology Centers of Alabama When the 16 physicians of Urology Centers of Alabama learned the state had earned an F on its prostate screening in underserved communities, they decided to do something about it. Working through Congressman Artur Davis' office, the group provided free screenings in Selma last September. That effort was so successful that the physicians, nurses and other staff repeated their efforts in October at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church in Birmingham. Sherry Wilson said other groups could initiate their own specialty screenings, perhaps teaming with others to address other at-risk groups. For more information about their work, call 445-0117. Household of Faith Family Medical Care Dr. Tom Edwards, medical director of Birmingham's Household of Faith Family Medical Care, has developed an extensive referral system to serve his poorest patients. Edwards, a former missionary to the Ivory Coast, is now deployed by Mission to the World to East Lake. His office space is too small to accommodate other volunteer physicians. But he does need a visiting ophthalmologist to offer free eye exams for diabetics. Edwards' greatest need, however, is to have a place to refer for free or nearly free X-rays and ultrasounds. He hopes physicians with this equipment might help. He also accepts donations for the clinic's planned expansion. For more information, call 836-2515. Alabama Center for Emergency Preparedness Log onto adph.org/volunteer to learn more about the Alabama Department of Public Health's Volunteer Network, organized to respond to "extraordinary events." Prompted by Hurricane Katrina needs, this registry will provide a streamlined base from which the state can call for medical volunteers. Medical Mission International Replaced exam tables, testing equipment and surgical instruments are too often warehoused or thrown away. Medical Mission International, formed this year in Birmingham, provides discarded supplies and equipment to clinics and hospitals in developing countries. More than 150,000 medical items were shipped to Malawi, Costa Rica, Vietnam and India this year. A Costa Rican hospice unit opened because 38 hospital beds that were slated for dumping were donated instead. Medical Mission's Jim Tucker says the mission needs donated supplies/equipment, shipping monies and volunteers to identify and sort materials. Biomedical equipment personnel are needed to inspect, calibrate and package machinery. E-mail Tucker at medmission@gmail.com or call 566-1374. November 2006