The saying, “Do what you love, and you’ll never work,” describes how Judy Lewis, co-chief pediatric nurse anesthetist, has often felt about working in pediatrics. After graduating from college, Judy began working in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) as a registered nurse. PICU provided the adrenaline rush she craved, along with the compassion she […]
Dr. Jeff Kempf looks forward to more opportunities to do good in retirement
When Dr. Jeff Kempf, retired director of the global health program and emergency medicine physician, counts his blessings, he often thinks about Haiti and its people. It was because of Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, that Dr. Kempf was able to develop a transformative program to bring health care and support services […]
Helping Haiti: Patient Care Comes Full Circle
I am blessed to have a job I love at Akron Children’s, where I get to split time between hospital medicine and global health. Through my years of working in Haiti and at St. Damien Pediatric Hospital, I’ve had the opportunity to develop friendships with patients and care givers that feels more like helping family […]
A mission with heart: Day 1 in Haiti
Many of Akron Children’s doctors, nurses and staff travel regularly to Haiti to help care for the sick children at St. Damien Pediatric Hospital. This post is the first installment of a 3-part series by Dr. Grace Smith, who gives a first-person account of her most recent medical mission trip there.
Last night in Haiti
For my last night in Haiti, Sister Judy and our leader Jeff Kempf have taken us to a very nice restaurant just minutes from the hospital grounds. It was a great way to end the trip. We began the morning with a memorable meeting we are sure will make history. We began the conversation of […]
A different view of Haiti
We are midway through our service here at St Damien’s, the only pediatric hospital in Haiti. Having never been to Haiti before, I had somewhat of a “skewed” view of the climate of the country overall. Having come straight to the hospital, and living in the camp on the grounds of the hospital, all we […]
