AMA recognizes physicians for service

The "best the medical profession has to offer" take a bow at the AMA National Leadership Conference.

By Bonnie Booth, amednews staff. March 26, 2001.

Washington -- Six physicians whose work ranges from founding and running a health clinic in Nepal to devoting a career to the care of a rural Kansas community were named this year's Pride in the Profession Award recipients by the AMA.

The awards, given in conjunction with the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative, honor physicians "whose devotion to the highest values of medical practice have healed patients, enriched communities and inspired colleagues." They were presented at the AMA National Leadership Conference held here earlier this month.

This year's recipients were: [photo]

Thomas T. Haider, MD, an orthopedic surgeon from Riverside, Calif. Dr. Haider established the Children's Spine Foundation in 1994 to provide free comprehensive spinal care for children without health insurance.

A native of Afghanistan, Dr. Haider sponsors a children's hospital in his homeland by supporting the salaries of 40 physicians and providing funds for all medication and food supplies. He called most of the assembled doctors heroes in their own right.

"So many of you provide so much for your communities, for health care and for your patients," he said. [photo]

Syed Arshad Husain, MD, a child psychiatrist from Columbia, Mo. Dr. Husain is the founding director of the International Center for Psychosocial Trauma at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine.

Dr. Husain has made more than 20 voluntary trips to Bosnia and Herzegovina to work with traumatized children. He has trained more than 2,000 teachers and more than 200 mental health professionals to help children deal with the trauma and tragedy of war. [photo]

Paul F. Maddox, MD, a Campton, Ky., family physician. "I still can remember when there was no appointment system," said Dr. Maddox of his nearly 50 years as the doctor for the Appalachian community.

Until just a few years ago, Dr. Maddox kept his clinic open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. He treated up to 150 patients a day and delivered more than 400 babies annually until hospitals were built in the area in the early 1970s. Dr. Maddox also served as mayor of Campton and lent the town money to build sewer lines. [photo]

Herman Richard Matern, MD, a general surgeon residing in Fort Defiance, Ariz. Now retired from practicing medicine in the United States, Dr. Matern continues to work on behalf of the Friends of Shatna Bhawan clinic, which he founded in Nepal after raising funds and supplies.

A stint in Vietnam through the U.S. Public Health Service led to his passion for caring for the residents of the world's medically underserved regions. [photo]

Linda D. Warren, MD, a family physician in Hanover, Kan. Dr. Warren has been dedicated to staying in her rural community and teaches rural medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.

"I have been able to participate in caring for people in a way that is very satisfying," Dr. Warren said. "Their knowledge of me and the true fishbowl effect [of rural life] promotes trust and understanding."

Dr. Warren was the first woman president of the Kansas Medical Society and has served as a delegate to the AMA House of Delegates, recently stepping aside to give others an opportunity to become involved in organized medicine.

Chandra Varia, MD, a gynecologist from Martin, Ky. Dr. Varia operates a free clinic one day a month in a part of the state where more than 30% of the population live below the poverty level. She and her husband have created a $1.6 million scholarship fund for eligible children she has delivered to go to college.

Dr. Varia was unable to receive her award in person because she was injured in a car crash while in India preparing to help victims of that country's recent earthquake.