Q – You are a medical doctor. Tell us about your work before your became involved in the international humanitarian arena.
DR Goodman: My wife and I moved to Hawaii after finishing my internship in 1972. I did not take specialty training because general medicine is a calling; an art. Specializing, although more lucrative, was just too limiting. I had a very busy practice delivering babies, performing surgery, family medicine and working in the emergency room at our local hospital. I worked with the emergency ambulance team to upgrade their skills and improve emergency services to Kauai. We replaced the town’s water system because the old system was a health hazard. In 1981, I built the first medical clinic on the north shore, established a pharmacy, and brought in psychologists, social workers, and physical therapy to my home town of Kilauea.
Q –In your story There is a Way from Heart to Heart you tell of your initial calling to go to Afghanistan and also later of your decision to return. What was it about Afghanistan that set it apart from other countries at the time? Does Afghanistan still call to you as it did in 1986?
DR GOODMAN: To be clear: I went to Pakistan to train the medics in 1987. I returned to Pakistan in 1991 to give supplemental training in public health, nutrition, land mine awareness, etc. I went to Afghanistan in Jan. 2002 to establish medical clinics, consult re the reconstruction of a hospital in Kabul and refurbished medical training facilities in Kabul.
I went to Afghanistan in 2002. Why Afghanistan? The people are incredible. They are resilient in adversity, proud despite poverty, and smiling even in hopeless situations. Afghanistan is diverse. It is a patchwork of ethnic origins, languages, religious affiliations and political persuasions. Afghanistan is austere in its beauty. If rocks had value, Afghanistan would be the wealthiest country on the planet.
International relief work is hard on the body, stressful for the mind, and disrupts any type of normal life in the U.S. As for returning to Afghanistan, my heart is there, but at age 64, I don’t think the rest of my body is ready.
Q – What other countries have you worked in outside the United States? Tell us a little about those experiences.
DR GOODMAN: Jan 87 Pakistan -Trained Mujahidin medics for 8 months
1991 Pakistan -worked on Public Health Issues
Jan 2002 - Afghanistan with International Medical corps (IMC) - Established 20 medical clinics in the provinces of Parwan, Wardak and Bamiyan.
April 2003 - Iraq (17days after the war began) to work on an Nasirihya Assessment repairing hospitals, in pediatric oncology in Baghad and evacuated pediatric cancer patients to Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan
Feb. 2004 – Liberia - Trained medical staff and established clinics in camps
Jan 2005 - Indonesia Tsunami -Established medical center in Lamno
Oct 2005 Earthquake in Pakistan – worked in two Camps each with 2500 internally displaced families
June 2006 Lebanon - IDPs in schools and provided medical support
Jan 2008 Kenya - Provided mobile medical clinics Eldoret
Malta 2009 -`Attempt to improve the living conditions for the “boat people” leaving from Libya for Europe and stranded in miserable conditions in Malta
Q – What is it about international humanitarian work that you find most satisfying?
DR Goodman: International humanitarian work is challenging. It is a creative endeavor. When large populations are at risk from violence or natural disasters, the humanitarian relief worker must assess the situation (food water, sanitation, health status, security and housing), identify and prioritize problems, and develop an action plan. Logistics, financial support, and acquiring personnel must be coordinated. The emergency response is a very complex event and requires creative thinking.
Q – Besides your story, There is a Way from Heart to Heart you, have you had other writing/publishing experiences?
DR Goodman: Reader’s Digest had a small article about my work last year.
Q – What is next for Doctor Goodman?
DR Goodman: I have no idea. I would like to build a house on a hill…..a “Vagabond’s House” (Don Blanding, check it out).