Ed Schmidt and Dr. Joe Serra
Last night's dinner at the Steak Pit was for the faculty - a celebration for the instructors of the conference. Looking around the table, and realizing all the incredible things this group has accomplished, was quite humbling. Here is a brief synopsis of some of the fine folks with whom we spent the evening.
Genevieve Kulaski and Dr. Joe Serra
Dr. Joe Serra, although retired, continues to work in conjunction with Rotary International to raise money for wheelchairs for children in Africa and Guatemala. Last year, this group sent an entire container of wheelchairs to Africa!
Listening to Joe talk last night about his recent trip to Guatemala was so endearing. He was sharing how mothers literally carried their teenage children to the wheelchair give-away, as they most likely have carried them their entire life! They are all so grateful to receive a wheelchair. And it's all free for the families.
Dr. Howard Donner - To understand (and love) Howard, you must meet him in person - he is quite a character! Howard spends most of his time traveling the world - he just recently returned from Patagonia - practicing expedition medicine. He also acts as a consultant for the NASA space program, and was a member of the 1997 Nova Everest Expedition. When he's not working, Howard hangs out in Truckee with his 7- year old son.
Dr. Michael Van Rooyan is an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health. Michael founded a 400-bed hospital in Haiti, from where he just returned after seeing the hospital completed for the first time.
Dr. Geoff Tabin is Professor of Surgery and Ophthalmology at the University of Utah School of Medicine and Co-Director of the Himalayan Cataract Project. Dr. Tabin is quite the accomplished climber as well, and is only the fourth person to have climbed the "7 Summits," - the highest point of all seven continents. Dr. Tabin spends time traveling the world to assist with expedition medicine - and in a SINGLE day while in Africa - he performed 80 cataract surgeries! He was also recently on the cover of the National Geographic Adventure Magazine.
Dr. Gene Allred is the Co-Director of Wilderness Medicine and responsible for putting together this high-caliber list of doctors. Dr. Allred has been teaching Wilderness Medicine courses for over 25 years and is also a professional whitewater and mountain guide - and always with a smile on his face!
View of Snowbird, Utah
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