Cousins, Brothers, Brides

The head of Heart to Heart International took a personal approach Sept. 29 at a symposium in Andijon, Uzbekistan.

"The people here from Physicians With Heart are not employees of the government, are not sent here by our government. Most of us have paid our own way to come here," said Gary Morsch, M.D., founder and president of Heart to Heart, which has collaborated for seven years with the AAFP and the AAFP Foundation in sending medical aid to former Soviet republics. He added, "We want to help you in your health care reforms in Uzbekistan, help you improve your care."

Morsch and others described the specialty of family practice, hoping it would take root in Andijon. "I want to learn from you here this week," he said. "What's important is whatever works for you here in Uzbekistan."

He continued, "We're all part of the same family. If you need food, I want to send food to feed you. If you need medicine, I want to send you medicine." Referring to AAFP member Don Ellsworth, M.D., who lives in Andijon, Morsch said, "If you need education, I want to send my brother Don Ellsworth to teach you."

Morsch asked, "Did you know you had cousins in the United States? Well, I'm your cousin. I've come here to visit, and I invite you to come see your cousins in America."

The director of Andijon's medical school replied. "Dr. Morsch, you said you are happy to call us your cousins," said Dr. Mamazoir Hujamberdiev. "Since we are related, you are welcome to come here to find brides and husbands among us."

At a farewell dinner, Dr. Akbarali Atakhanov, Andijon's public health minister, said his own parents had died long ago, so he claimed Janice and Earl Carpenter as his new parents. Part of the Physicians With Heart group, the Carpenters were accompanied by their daughter Jeanne Fell, a Heart to Heart administrative assistant.

Atakhanov also called the visiting physicians his brothers, saying, "Doctors have no boundaries."