Dr. Robert E. Kalb, a University at Buffalo dermatology professor, volunteered to spend some time in Cambodia treating patients at the country’s only hospital that provides free care.Sunday Profile /Dr. Robert E. Kalb
02/03/08
By Louise Continelli
NEWS STAFF REPORTER
The Buffalo News (New York, USA)
He calls it a “life-changing experience” where poverty is rampant.
It is the second straight year Dr. Robert E. Kalb, his wife, son and daughter spent much of their holiday season volunteering — this time at a hospital clinic and elementary school in Cambodia.
After his 17 1/2-hour flight to Cambodia, and equipped with books and medical samples, the Amherst dermatologist treated some 50 patients a day — many with severe skin problems and fighting nutritional deficiencies and with no access to medication that would help their conditions.
Some Cambodians journeyed long distances on bikes, waiting days to be treated at the Sihanouk Hospital Center for Hope, the only hospital that provides free care in the country.
Kalb, his wife, Marlisa, and daughter, Elisa, 19, left for Cambodia the day after Christmas, stopping first in Thailand, where son, Ryan, 22, teaches English at Assumption University. They then went to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, where Marlisa, Elisa and Ryan spent weeks teaching English to 45 grade-school kids at the Goldstone School. Both the hospital and school are sponsored by HOPE International, a faith-based organization focused on alleviating poverty. Kalb grew up in a family of nine.
“I was the first to attend college,” said Kalb, a clinical associate professor in the Dermatology Department of the University at Buffalo’s School of Medicine and chairman of the Buffalo Medical Group’s Dermatology Department.
“I’ve always felt fortunate to have been able to attend college, medical school and a dermatology training program,” he said. “An open door to education is what allowed me to achieve my professional success. I’ve always had a desire to volunteer.”
An opportunity through the National Dermatology Organization and Health Volunteers Overseas led him to Cambodia. During the two-week session in Cambodia, he worked with other doctors, medical students and dermatology trainees.
“There are some more unusual problems because of the poverty and climate, such as nutritional deficiencies and leprosy,” he said. “In general, [many] of the skin problems are very severe examples of more common conditions such as psoriasis or eczema. Unfortunately, significant poverty prevents access to most of the treatments that would be available in more developed countries. Simple problems become major.”
His family was “a tremendous support,” Kalb said.
“I specifically volunteered in early January so my college-aged children could accompany us on both occasions. They taught English to the fifthand sixth-graders, and then the following year to the sixth- and seventhgraders.”
Have an idea about a local person whose life would make a good profile or a neighborhood issue worth exploring? Write to: Louise Continelli, The Buffalo News, P.O. Box 100, Buffalo, NY 14240, or e-mail lcontinelli@buffnews.com
It is the second straight year Dr. Robert E. Kalb, his wife, son and daughter spent much of their holiday season volunteering — this time at a hospital clinic and elementary school in Cambodia.
After his 17 1/2-hour flight to Cambodia, and equipped with books and medical samples, the Amherst dermatologist treated some 50 patients a day — many with severe skin problems and fighting nutritional deficiencies and with no access to medication that would help their conditions.
Some Cambodians journeyed long distances on bikes, waiting days to be treated at the Sihanouk Hospital Center for Hope, the only hospital that provides free care in the country.
Kalb, his wife, Marlisa, and daughter, Elisa, 19, left for Cambodia the day after Christmas, stopping first in Thailand, where son, Ryan, 22, teaches English at Assumption University. They then went to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, where Marlisa, Elisa and Ryan spent weeks teaching English to 45 grade-school kids at the Goldstone School. Both the hospital and school are sponsored by HOPE International, a faith-based organization focused on alleviating poverty. Kalb grew up in a family of nine.
“I was the first to attend college,” said Kalb, a clinical associate professor in the Dermatology Department of the University at Buffalo’s School of Medicine and chairman of the Buffalo Medical Group’s Dermatology Department.
“I’ve always felt fortunate to have been able to attend college, medical school and a dermatology training program,” he said. “An open door to education is what allowed me to achieve my professional success. I’ve always had a desire to volunteer.”
An opportunity through the National Dermatology Organization and Health Volunteers Overseas led him to Cambodia. During the two-week session in Cambodia, he worked with other doctors, medical students and dermatology trainees.
“There are some more unusual problems because of the poverty and climate, such as nutritional deficiencies and leprosy,” he said. “In general, [many] of the skin problems are very severe examples of more common conditions such as psoriasis or eczema. Unfortunately, significant poverty prevents access to most of the treatments that would be available in more developed countries. Simple problems become major.”
His family was “a tremendous support,” Kalb said.
“I specifically volunteered in early January so my college-aged children could accompany us on both occasions. They taught English to the fifthand sixth-graders, and then the following year to the sixth- and seventhgraders.”
Have an idea about a local person whose life would make a good profile or a neighborhood issue worth exploring? Write to: Louise Continelli, The Buffalo News, P.O. Box 100, Buffalo, NY 14240, or e-mail lcontinelli@buffnews.com
3 comments:
thank you Dr. Kalb and your family for helping poor cambodian people. please come live in cambodia, they need more people like you. thank you
Thank you Dr. Kalb and your family [I cannot talk on behalf of Cambodian but myself] for helping treating poor Cambodians, teaching Cambodian Medical students, and your valuable times being a leading volunteer.
Thank you so much for your kindness heart,My Country need more input of teaching medical students.
I am asking all other nations for volunteer to help my poor people and teaching medical students too.
Thank you!!May God bless you all.
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