Dr. Michael Phillips, a Gastroenterologist at The Oregon Clinic Gastroenterology – East, donated his time and expertise to provide free care to rural patients in Guatemala.
During May 2015, Dr. Michael Phillips travelled to rural Santa Rosa, Guatemala with Faith in Practice, a non-profit ecumenical Christian medical mission orgaization. He travelled with a team of 25 providers (including pediatricians, internists, dentists, gynecologists, nurses, and pharmacists) and support staff.
Together, the team worked to provide care for over 2,000 indigenous patients per week. Many of these patients received free care, including surgery at the hospital in Antigua, “Las Obras.” The hospital also provided housing for the families that travelled from all over Guatemala to help support their loved ones during their surgeries.
“These trips are really about social justice in a part of the world where a $7 doctor visit or a $3 prescription can be an unaffordable or insurmountable barrier to receiving care,” said Dr. Phillips. “There are always more people in need than we have room for, and we always try to squeeze in just “one more.” The days we see patients are long, hot and busy, but they are also rewarding.”
Some of the patients travel for miles and wait in the hot sun for hours to receive medical care. Given the rare opportunity to be seen by a physician, patients come dressed in their “Sunday best.”
This year will be Dr. Phillips’ second year providing overseas medical care with Faith in Practice. His wife, Nancy Phillips, has been providing care with Faith in Practice for the last seven years.
Together, Dr. Phillips and his wife support the cost of their travel, plus an additional donation to the program itself, and are proud to support an organization that has been given the highest rating possible by Charity Navigator, including a perfect score for transparency and accountability.
If you would like to donate to Faith in Practice in support of Dr. Phillips and his wife, visit www.faithinpractice.org/share-mission and enter in Nancy Phillips’ volunteer number (21999), or Dr. Michael Phillips’ volunteer number (21998).
Learn more about Dr. Phillips by visiting his online profile at www.oregonclinic.com/Mike-Phillips