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Our days in global perspective
EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE Paul B. Freeman, O.D.
Our days in global perspective
E
very now and then one ought to put the ‘‘challenges’’ of what we do in our daily lives, the ‘‘trials and tribulations’’ of our professional responsibilities, and the health care dynamic into some global perspective. History shows that universal peacetime is the exception rather than the rule, and that it is almost inevitable that somewhere on the planet a major conflict is raging. Many of us will never directly experience the negative effects of these conflicts, either through activity in military service or from a loss to military duty. That being said, there is still the need to be cognizant of the many members of our armed forces who put themselves in harm’s way, not only in combat, but as medical personnel tending to those unfortunate casualties of war. Every day we are reminded via news reports and election campaign rhetoric of the conflict in the Middle East. Recently, my perspective on all this took on a new dimension. A friend, neighbor, and colleague, Randy Beatty, O.D., M.D., was called to active duty and is stationed at the major trauma hospital for head and neck injuries just north of Baghdad, Iraq. Dr. Beatty is an orbital/ oculoplastic surgeon and an associate of mine at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. He was previously in the active military and is currently in the Air Force Reserve. His twin children, Ricky and Maria, are in the same grade and school as my daughter, Julia, and they have become friends. So it was with great angst that we received news that my friend volunteered to leave his practice and go to the war zone in Iraq to tend to the casualties of that war. From my vantage point, there were 2 immediate concerns: first, how to
explain the harsh realities of war to children whose innocence would be partially marred by this discussion, then, how to convince the children (as well as ourselves) that Dr. Beatty would be safe and that the time he would be spending overseas would pass quickly, despite the fact that he would miss his wife’s birthday, his children’s birthday, his wedding anniversary, the last day of third grade, the first day of fourth grade, and any events that might spontaneously arise over the time that he would be gone. After arriving in Iraq, Dr. Beatty began correspondence with his family and friends about his experiences. He reports on the harsh climate (temperature and sand), his living arrangements, his daily routine, and his experience as a surgeon. Through his e-mail ‘‘eyes’’ we learn a little about the casualties he has worked on, not only our own troops, but any of the casualties that present to him, independent of their country of origin; indeed, this is medical care in the purest sense. Notably, a descriptor like the following puts my days in perspective: ‘‘This morning I was expecting a slow day and looking forward to my morning cup of coffee as I walked into the hospital. Instead, I was greeted by one of the sergeants telling me I was needed in the OR. I took off the body armor and changed into scrubs [italics mine].’’ I suppose many, after reading this and being somewhat unsettled, will go on with their daily activities, which is how it should be. Perhaps some who read this have a friend or loved one or know someone who is serving in the military; independent of how one feels about the politics of war, all of us are impacted by these conflicting events,
1529-1839/08/$ -see front matter Ó 2008 American Optometric Association. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.optm.2008.07.009
Paul B. Freeman, O.D.
some more than others. In fact, optometrists serve alongside the rest of the medical community and are equally exposed to the turmoil of this conflict as well as previous conflicts. As of August 1, 2008, there were 373 ODs serving on Active Duty in the military, including 12 who are deployed within combat zones (10 ODs in Iraq and 2 in Afghanistan). Optometrists have made tremendous contributions in this theater of war. Ten military optometrists followed the tanks into the Afghanistan and Iraq wars in 2002 and 2003, and since, more than 100 military optometrists have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, serving our nation’s service members from Forward Operating Bases spread across these 2 countries. Surprisingly, when asked (despite the hardships, a job that runs 24/7, and deployments lasting up to 15 months),
486 our military optometrists report that it is an honor to serve soldiers, Marines, sailors, and airmen in this grim and troubled environment.
Editorial I would like to encourage each of us who are allowed to maintain life as ‘‘status quo’’ to thank those in uniform, past and present, for that oppor-
tunity. I also wish for my friend Randy, and all those who are in harm’s way, to return safely to the families and friends who miss them.
Our days in global perspective
E
very now and then one ought to put the ‘‘challenges’’ of what we do in our daily lives, the ‘‘trials and tribulations’’ of our professional responsibilities, and the health care dynamic into some global perspective. History shows that universal peacetime is the exception rather than the rule, and that it is almost inevitable that somewhere on the planet a major conflict is raging. Many of us will never directly experience the negative effects of these conflicts, either through activity in military service or from a loss to military duty. That being said, there is still the need to be cognizant of the many members of our armed forces who put themselves in harm’s way, not only in combat, but as medical personnel tending to those unfortunate casualties of war. Every day we are reminded via news reports and election campaign rhetoric of the conflict in the Middle East. Recently, my perspective on all this took on a new dimension. A friend, neighbor, and colleague, Randy Beatty, O.D., M.D., was called to active duty and is stationed at the major trauma hospital for head and neck injuries just north of Baghdad, Iraq. Dr. Beatty is an orbital/ oculoplastic surgeon and an associate of mine at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. He was previously in the active military and is currently in the Air Force Reserve. His twin children, Ricky and Maria, are in the same grade and school as my daughter, Julia, and they have become friends. So it was with great angst that we received news that my friend volunteered to leave his practice and go to the war zone in Iraq to tend to the casualties of that war. From my vantage point, there were 2 immediate concerns: first, how to
explain the harsh realities of war to children whose innocence would be partially marred by this discussion, then, how to convince the children (as well as ourselves) that Dr. Beatty would be safe and that the time he would be spending overseas would pass quickly, despite the fact that he would miss his wife’s birthday, his children’s birthday, his wedding anniversary, the last day of third grade, the first day of fourth grade, and any events that might spontaneously arise over the time that he would be gone. After arriving in Iraq, Dr. Beatty began correspondence with his family and friends about his experiences. He reports on the harsh climate (temperature and sand), his living arrangements, his daily routine, and his experience as a surgeon. Through his e-mail ‘‘eyes’’ we learn a little about the casualties he has worked on, not only our own troops, but any of the casualties that present to him, independent of their country of origin; indeed, this is medical care in the purest sense. Notably, a descriptor like the following puts my days in perspective: ‘‘This morning I was expecting a slow day and looking forward to my morning cup of coffee as I walked into the hospital. Instead, I was greeted by one of the sergeants telling me I was needed in the OR. I took off the body armor and changed into scrubs [italics mine].’’ I suppose many, after reading this and being somewhat unsettled, will go on with their daily activities, which is how it should be. Perhaps some who read this have a friend or loved one or know someone who is serving in the military; independent of how one feels about the politics of war, all of us are impacted by these conflicting events,
1529-1839/08/$ -see front matter Ó 2008 American Optometric Association. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.optm.2008.07.009
Paul B. Freeman, O.D.
some more than others. In fact, optometrists serve alongside the rest of the medical community and are equally exposed to the turmoil of this conflict as well as previous conflicts. As of August 1, 2008, there were 373 ODs serving on Active Duty in the military, including 12 who are deployed within combat zones (10 ODs in Iraq and 2 in Afghanistan). Optometrists have made tremendous contributions in this theater of war. Ten military optometrists followed the tanks into the Afghanistan and Iraq wars in 2002 and 2003, and since, more than 100 military optometrists have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, serving our nation’s service members from Forward Operating Bases spread across these 2 countries. Surprisingly, when asked (despite the hardships, a job that runs 24/7, and deployments lasting up to 15 months),
486 our military optometrists report that it is an honor to serve soldiers, Marines, sailors, and airmen in this grim and troubled environment.
Editorial I would like to encourage each of us who are allowed to maintain life as ‘‘status quo’’ to thank those in uniform, past and present, for that oppor-
tunity. I also wish for my friend Randy, and all those who are in harm’s way, to return safely to the families and friends who miss them.