In rural medicine, you can use a good mix of skills. Doctors Without Borders requires a six-month service commitment. He said he s attracted by the people and ailments of the Bush. Patient contact in rural medicine is a lot more rewarding than in an urban setting. Rural Alaska tends to weed out a lot of people.
People there are more likely try things to help themselves before they come to the doctor.
The people you do talk to tend to be really sick. He ll also continue to act as doctor sponsor for the Haines Volunteer Fire Department Ambulance crew, a post he s held for the past five years. He said the squad has improved its response capacity, equipment and training. I feel very safe knowing they re there. The medevac service between Haines and Juneau is safer than it s ever been, he said.