I stumbled across Mountains Beyond Mountains at the local used book store and after reading the back of it, thought it sounded interesting. This story is more than that. It tells the true story of Dr. Paul Farmer who created a foundation called Partners In Health, started a hospital/health care facility in rural Haiti, and has developed an approach to treating diseases such as tuberculosis in countries like Haiti that has become a model across the world.
Tracy Kidder writes some about Dr. Farmer’s youth and about a year he spent in Haiti after undergrad where he met some connections and grew connected to a part of the world that many have never thought twice of. As he went through medical school at Harvard Medical School he spent as much time in Haiti as he did Boston, developing a following there that built into a hospital. He developed new ways to treat patients such as home visits and health education as part of medical treatment.
One of the primary areas that he focuses on is multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. He develops a new treatment plan, negotiates the price of drugs to make them available and is so successful in his approaches that he is called to other parts of the world to share what he knows. Dr. Paul Farmer rarely sleeps, travels constantly, and makes the absolute most of every moment. It is very inspiring and I am again, in awe of what can be accomplished by one driven and passionate person.
13/08/2009 at 9:57 pm Permalink
Another favorite recent book.
I found “three cups of tea” after reading this book and searching for similar books at Amazon.
I agree that it was inspiring and wonderful to see what one person could do. I couldn’t help but think about the sacrifices he made to accomplish this- strained relationships, constant travel. I was humbled by Dr. Farmer’s unwillingness to be satisfied with some progress when others were still in such stark need.