Habitat for Humanity - Project III

By Wildon Farwell

On Saturday, September 8, 2001, a small but eager group representing the Indiana Chapter of ACP-ASIM participated in a special community outreach project. This year represents the 25th anniversary of Habitat for Humanity, and Indianapolis was chosen as the international celebration city and marked this event by building 25 homes. Our small but eager group was initially directed to help with landscaping on a home already erected, but Mother Nature had other ideas. Gentle rains the night before our project prevented our turning soil the following day. When we arrived to the work site we were redirected to move debris and clean the site. Initially this consisted of moving boards and boxes and later shingles but then a big hill of trash became our enemy and common cause. Once our mission was accomplished and no other duties could be found or acquired, we quietly dispersed.

Now, after reading the little paragraph above you may wonder what was accomplished. Did we increase the awareness of the ACP-ASIM in the community? Probably not. Did we accomplish great things for lots of people? Definitely not. However, a few times as I was picking up boards and plastic wrap, I thought of how the job of cleaning a work site paralleled the type of medicine I want to one day practice. Few people hardly noticed us during our work, but, by the end of the job, the difference we had made was easily seen by everyone. In public health, the workers are often overlooked, but the differences they make can benefit everyone. As we cleared away a portion of the hill of debris, more debris would be thrown out onto the hill until a wheelbarrow was positioned to collect the thrown debris and carry it away. In public health, symptoms of a disease can be treated only to recur until the cause of the disease is found and cured. In medicine, I want to be a worker that makes a difference and finds solutions to problems rather than dealing with superficial consequences. On Saturday, I reaffirmed the type of physician I hope to someday become.

Volunteer work is often "quiet" work. Not much attention, not much recognition. However, volunteerism benefits our communities and offers us an opportunity for personal fulfillment and an opportunity to reaffirm our desire to be healers.

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Contact Information

Indiana Chapter Governor:
Michael C. Sha, MD, FACP

Shelly Symmes
Chapter Administrator
Ph: 317-261-2060
Email: ssymmes@ismanet.org