Be sure to read the following on Summer Reading BEFORE you work on this summer reading assignment.
1. READ
Read the excerpt from the book, Mountains Beyond Mountains.
2. THINK
Now, this is most definitely a true story. This excerpt is the first three chapters (~40 pages) of a 300-page book written about Harvard physician, Dr. Paul Farmer. Think about the life this man is choosing to live as compared to the reasons you hear that most people become doctors. Also think about how this story shows how, in the real world, science and medicine can be strongly influenced by politics.
If you want to meet Paul Farmer, you can watch a talk he gave recently (May 8, 2007) at NYU by clicking on this link. You can also visit the Partners for Health Web site www.pih.org
3. RESPOND
WATCH THIS VIDEO: HERE
Interview with Dr. Paul Farmer: HERE
Pictures of Dr. Farmer: HERE
Interview with Tracy Kidder: HERE
60 minutes interview with Dr. Paul Farmer: HERE
Cambridge Reads, an interview with Dr. Paul Farmer: HERE
This I believe with Dr. Farmer: HERE
Respond to the following on my biology blog:
http://www.marysbiologypage.blogspot.com/
a. Tell me what you thought about the excerpt from this book. Tell me what you think of Dr. Paul Farmer.
b. Margaret Mead (a very famous anthropologist) once said:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
Explain how Paul Farmer embodies this idea by responding in the comment section.
Interview with Dr. Paul Farmer: HERE
Pictures of Dr. Farmer: HERE
Interview with Tracy Kidder: HERE
60 minutes interview with Dr. Paul Farmer: HERE
Cambridge Reads, an interview with Dr. Paul Farmer: HERE
This I believe with Dr. Farmer: HERE
Respond to the following on my biology blog:
http://www.marysbiologypage.blogspot.com/
a. Tell me what you thought about the excerpt from this book. Tell me what you think of Dr. Paul Farmer.
b. Margaret Mead (a very famous anthropologist) once said:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
Explain how Paul Farmer embodies this idea by responding in the comment section.
27 comments:
a. I thought that the excerpt from the novel was well-written and very powerful. It did a good job at clearly describing who Dr. Farmer is and what he is trying to accomplish and change in the world. Dr. Paul Farmer is an extraordinary person; his dedication to his cause is truly inspiring. Dr. Farmer seems to be a passionate, intelligent, caring, and well-educated man who is truly concerned for the welfare of the poor in the world.
b. Dr. Farmer embodies Mead's idea by literally living it out in his daily actions. He inspires and/or works with others to bring about change in the world, and does so with committment and determination. His work with Partners For Health shows that a small group of people (those associated with the association) can bring about change, one small step at a time.
a) I found Dr. Paul Farmer to be an exceptional human being who displays characteristics of a Saint. Indeed, he is commensurate to Mother Teresa, working with the destitute and ill while bringing compassion, hope, and dignity into their lives. Dr. Farmer is a man who has found his life’s calling and who pursues his work with a Christ-like love in his heart. The excerpt itself is incredible; the author must have been enlightened to the amount of cruelness in the world as well as the power of true human kindness while observing her source. Surely anyone who observed Dr. Farmer and his dealing with the poor first hand would yearn to share the story, and Tracy Kidder does so beautifully with graphic imagery and detail that made me feel as if I knew Dr. Farmer and had been to his hospital in Haiti myself.
b) Dr. Paul Farmer embodies Margaret Mead’s idea that an individual or small group can make great change in the world, and also that these people are the only ones that ever have. Dr. Farmer is the individual in a world of chaos and political and social distress who is fighting against every obstacle imaginable to bring the destitute peoples of Haiti the care and love they deserve as human beings. He is a single man, yet he is working against all odds to heal his patients and the broken health care system in Haiti. Dr. Farmer is a perfect example of the individual who is making a difference in the world.
a) This excerpt is a powerful view into a world that, though widely fought for, is rarely presented so starkly to the public. Dr. Farmer is much more than a doctor, he is a healer. He is a man who somehow saw past the impersonal medicine that is practiced in our modern world and saw the humanity that so desperately needed attention. He saw a person, not a patient and fought with his entire life to show the rest of the world the unclouded view that his remarkable work afforded him. He may not see himself as a saint, but I think that it is fair to say that many other people would.
b)Margaret Mead would have been proud to see someone so aptly embody her words. Dr. Farmer showed that she was more than correct in what she said. Indeed, it took a few people, unjaded by modern society's greed and hopelessness to see past a so called hopeless case and see behind it an opportunity to change lives for the better and to perhaps heal the rift between the people of Haiti and the selfish government of the world. Dr, Farmer along with a few dedicated workers touched the lives of thousands of people in need and inspired those with greater means to do something more for the millions suffering in our world. Dr. Farmer moved people. He changed the way a society thinks and he proves with his work that no matter how stubborn or impossible a task may seem, with dedication and passion and sacrifice the world can indeed be changed.
a. The excerpt from this novel was extremely powerful and in just a short amount of words was able to capture the poor,hard and cruel world that exists. Dr. Farmer is an amazing man that has gone against all odds to save the world one person at a time. His belief that health care is a right rather than a privelage is so inspiring and should be embraced by physicians around the globe. His passion and dedication has inspired me to change the world and I know that the impact he has among the people of Haiti will forever be remembered.
b. Mead's idea that a small group of people can change the world is in fact the fundamental theory of which Farmer lives. He along with a small group of other doctors are fighting against the political and social issues in the only way they can, by saving lives and doing so free of charge. He is one example of an individual saving the world and I know one day he will have accomplished this task.
a) One of things that customarily occur in the description of a good person in a novel is this strange phenomenon of empowerment by the narrator. I was relieved by Tracy Kidder’s account of Farmer’s exploits because she remained relatively objective without being, if I may say so, “soppy”. Farmer remains to the reader a man of integrity and dedication, but still a man. In fact, Kidder seems adamant on showing Farmer to be a man, an exceedingly normal man by our standards; he seems to be a person I would meet on the street, someone who I would go to with flu. Yet we learn that Dr. Paul Farmer stretches the definition of a normal man because his humanity is what gives us, the tragedy-weary people of the world, hope. I am going through some tough times emotionally, and for a period of time I was almost sure that the good in this world was all but spent. Kidder’s narration of Farmer’s activities, and simply the actions of Farmer himself, his sincerity, his earnestness, and foremost of all his fundamental desire to help those who all else thought couldn’t be helped, to save those who all else assumed to be damned; that is what pulled my head up from the depths, a simple doctor’s goodness. Moreover, I recognized in Farmer a quality that I strive to cultivate in myself, the ability to set standards (Farmer says that his patients should be “just vibrant and happy and healthy”) and work ceaselessly in order to achieve that standard for myself and for others.
Conversely, Farmer has attributed to him a sort of perfection, one that makes a critical reader concerned about the accuracy of the excerpt. He does, however, recognize that perfection is not one of his traits, for as he muses, “a saint would be a great thing to be” (although, his denial of perfection is in our eyes another quality which then thrusts him even further towards some undesired angelic status).
b) I assume that the best way to answer this is to go literally phrase by phrase. Paul Farmer is, essentially, one of those thoughtful, committed citizens that Mead references. Although I doubt the second statement is historically accurate (Mead does not say whether the said change is determinedly good or evil, so an example would be Hitler’s decision to invoke the Final Solution, which was not performed by a small group of committed citizens and most certainly changed the world), her first statement reflects Dr. Farmer’s “mission statement” quite closely, if he has one. Farmer’s unstoppable dedication to the work he performs is admirable, to say the least, and the amount of thought he puts into his work is surprisingly touching. He’s the doctor that really cares, that elevates the patient into a friend with unadulterated compassion.
a. I thought that the excerpt from the book was very interesting and powerful. Kidder did a very good job illustrating the poverty in Haiti and he showed us just how many people need help. Dr. Paul Farmer was a well educated Harvard graduate who could have chosen a profession just for the money. But he did not do that, he choose to do the thing he loved, heal people all over the world that really need help. Framer is a true human being and that is hard to find in the world these days. He is a doctor for all the right reasons and I believe that we need more people like Farmer in the world. The people in Haiti will never forget Dokte Paul.
b. Dr. Paul Farmer follows Mead's theory exactly. Farmer is a very committed and thoughtful man who wanted to make an impact in the world. Some people may have doubted Farmer while he was in Haiti but the best thing was that he never doubted himself and that is why he and others made such a significant impact in Haiti. I believe that Farmer lives his life off the quote, "Leave the world a better place then you found it." If he continues his great work he will make the world a better place than he has already made it.
a. The first excerpt from this book gives a first look at Dr. Paul Farmer. The excerpt itself was well-written and gave an inside view of the work that Dr. Farmer is doing for those less fortunate than ourselves. Each chapter filled the reader with more background as to why and how Dr. Farmer was doing what he did. It makes clear how much Dr. Farmer did for those in need and at what own personal expen$e. Dr. Farmer himself is shown to be a well learned man with a great education in his field. He is enthusiastic about what he does and he is very down to earth, spending time to help each individual patient. For this I find Dr. Farmer worthy of great respect and I hold him in high regards. He goes beyond charity work and he has made aiding the needs of others his job, no, his life.
b. Margaret Mead makes a strong point in her idea. The fact that a little thoughtfulness and a lot of determination and commitment can change the world is a bold statement. However it is completely 100% correct and it is exactly what Dr. Farmer and his small band of doctors are doing. Epitomizing the words of Margaret, Dr. Farmer has shown much personal sacrifice and commitment to start his work of making the world a bit brighter for those far less fortunate. He has started his program Partners in Health with much of his own personal money. And with a few doctor's aide, he has been able to expand his base of work there on Haiti. Together, their small force of ‘thoughtful’ doctors has shouldered the load of an entire country. With small steps, they are chipping away at the heavy burden of world poverty and lack of adequate medicine.
A.) In the first few chapters of Mountains Beyond Mountains,Tracy Kidder does an excellent job of portraying the poverty side of world that many americans today can only imagine. It was very moving to read about those who have diseases that not many people have in the U.S. Paul Farmer is a selfless individual who gives his entire life to helping those less fortunate than himself to get better. He donates his money to Partners For Health which helps fund the research and drugs for the people of Haiti and with the rest of it, he pays for his mother's morgage. He is considered a saint among those who he helps, though he always says that he does not deserve that title.
B.) Dr. Paul Farmer is the epitomy of what Margaret Mead is saying in her quote, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has." Farmer and his group of doctors and nurses may be a small group of people, but to the people of Haiti, they are like Gods. Farmer has such passion about curing people that he rarely sleeps and his attitude towards giving is spread throughout his staff. Farmer shows that one person can make a difference, no matter how small they start out to be.
a) Mountains Beyond Mountains is such a powerful book and just by reading the first 3 chapters I was in awe of Paul Farmer's confidence and leadership. His hard work to combat the poverty and disease in Haiti is so inspiring even though the task seems almost impossible. The way Tracy Kidder describes Farmer treating his never ending supply of patients is simply incredible. Farmer, who at first seems a bit standoffish and stubborn at the beginning of the book, is truly understanding and helpful to each individual patient, even in the midst of hundreds crowding in the small hospital for a treatment. Also seeing the pictures of him in action as a doctor makes the whole experience real. This is not just a story, it's reality. And the fact Farmer is dedicating his life to help these poor and impoverished people is simply powerful.
b) Margaret Mead describes Farmer perfectly in two simple words, "thoughtful" and "committed." Although his goal of stability in Haiti's people and government might seem far from sight, he is not discouraged. He knows that in order to get a task done, one must be committed. Truly, Farmer has done so much for the people of Haiti. His dedication and diligence is never ending and most definitely will never end as long as he lives.
a. Just from reading the first few chapters of Mountains Beyond Mountains, I feel that Tracy Kidder does an amazing job of informing the reader of who Dr. Paul Farmer is. Farmer is a unique individual who wants to make the world a better place by giving people who have no access to medical treatment what they need to be healthy. Dr. Farmer is not concerned with his own personal gain, but he wants people that have no means of health care to be able to get the supplies they need, even is he has to go out of his way to do so. His passion for medicine has driven him to extend the boundaries of medicine to those who do not have the resources.
b. Mead's quote perfectly explains what Dr. Paul Farmer's work is. He is trying to change the health care situation throughout the whole world. Farmer lives out this quotation every day with the group, Partners for Health. Farmer and this group are people trying to make the world a healthier place, one person at a time.
a. I thought that the excerpt from this book really did a tremendous job in revealing the kind of revolutionary character that Dr. Paul Farmer had became and would eventually become. I am very impressed by how incredible a doctor he is at being able to cure infectious diseases, but then most of all, I was impressed by how Dr. Paul Farmer did not try to achieve personal gains from his hard work. He proved that he truly wants to use his own discoveries to try to help those who truly needed it, and that stood out the most to me about him.
b. Dr. Paul Farmer's works seemed to go hand in hand with Mead's quote because instead of trying to acclaim personal achievements with his group "Partners for Health", they try to help change the world because we all know that not everybody has the same health care coverage. Dr. Paul Farmer and his group really tried to help those who really needed it, as they are the people who were truly in need. Dr. Farmer's works and actions, from this novel, hopefully can inspire other revolutionary doctors or other important people to try to help more people who are in need. If that were to occur, then the whole world would thrive much better, just as Dr. Farmer wants it.
A. The first three chapters of Mountains Beyond Mountains, depicting the daily lives of Haitian farmers in dire need of healthcare, were distressing, yet remarkably hopeful. This sense of hopefulness amid such vivid suffering can be attributed to one man, Dr. Paul Farmer. Dr. Paul Farmer is the most peculiar, yet magnanimous doctor I have ever heard of or read about. With an MD from Harvard University, Dr. Farmer could work for almost any medical institution he chose and have great financial success. Instead, he has chosen to live a selfless life and is a co-founder of Partners In Health, an international healthcare and social justice organization. Dr. Farmer touches the lives of many destitute Haitians nearly everyday helping to ensure that they receive the best healthcare available. Notwithstanding the political pressures in Haiti, Dr. Paul Farmer is trying to revolutionize international healthcare to create better lives for all of his patients and to help them to become functional members of society. He is truly a remarkable individual.
B. Margaret Mead once said: “Never doubt that a group of small, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Dr. Paul Farmer exemplifies this idea. Dr. Farmer was the co-founder of Partners in Health, a group of devoted individuals working to promote social justice in international healthcare. Farmer started this organization because he was disturbed by the traditional lack of assistance of most medical professionals to the less fortunate global citizens who need healthcare most of all. Since its creation, Dr. Paul Farmer has donated nearly every penny of his earnings as a professor at Harvard and physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital to Partners in Health. In addition, he vigorously treats every patient that he can, even if it means sacrificing sleep or personal time. Dr. Paul Farmer is truly a pioneer in international healthcare. He is changing the world one patient at a time.
-Chris Broderick
A. The excerpt from Mountains Beyond Mountains was extrmeley powerful and in many ways quite motivational. Dr. Paul Farmer. Is an amazing individual. He is a selfless doctor who denies himself the lavish lifestyle many others in his financial position live, in order to devote himself to treating poor Haitians. I really respect his work. He understands the situations of those living in poverty and treats "almost everyone" for free. He personally connects to each patient and treats them as brothers and sisters or mothers and fathers. As a patient I would find this very comforting. His familial relationship with the patients tells me he really cares about everyone he treats. His passion for his work is provides him with the energy needed to perservere through all the suffering he witnesses and bring the best medicine and most advanced techniques to Haiti. I look forward to reading the rest of this book and learning more about what inspired Dr. Farmer to spend so much time, and effort to help the poor in Haiti.
B. Dr. Paul Farmer embodies Margaret Mead's quote in many ways. He is a Harvard professor and a top notch doctor that commits himself to improving the health and thus the lives of the poor in Zanmi Lasante,Haiti. He and the group of Haitian doctors he works with have changed the world. Dr. Paul Farmer's cause has caught the eyes of many companies who donate the money he needs for medication. In this way he is able to use very good and quite expensive medication to treat the Haitians' AIDS, TB, and other diseases or viruses. Dr. Paul Farmer is the catalyst that inspired others to join the cause and bring medicine to third world countries.
a) I could not agree more with the man, 'Joe', in Boston who referred to Dr. Farmer as a saint. This man sacrificed his own personal life to benefit the lives of others. The author mentioned that Dr. Farmer rarely visited his daughter and wife in France because he had no patients there and that he had trouble living with himself when he knew there were people out there in need of his help. Paul Farmer was a man who was willing to do whatever it takes to do what his heart told him was right. He was lucky enough to have a combination of determination, heart and intelligence which is a recipe for success no matter what your expertise. In this short excerpt I was able to see how you can use knowledge, generosity and friendship to change lives forever. This man was able to do more than cure these impoverished people physically, he was able to cure them mentally and emotionally as well. He could cure anything from AIDS to loneliness. Dr. Paul Farmer embodies every quality of a true saint.
b) With only a few people on its staff, Zanmi Lasante has managed to increase infant mortality rates and decrease the percentage of AIDS throughout Haiti. It is mentioned in the book that millions of Haitian peseants rely on this clinic to survive. These people, who would not ordinarily be able to afford such advanced treatments with their salaries of $1 a day, are able to get the best the best treatments for no cost because of the efforts of this one man and his staff. Dr. Paul Farmer and his staff were able to single-handedly change an entire community with their good intentions and because of this they embody Mead's quote to its fullest.
Responses to Mountains Beyond Mountains.
a. I personally liked reading Mountains Beyond Mountains. Tracey Kidder tells the story of Dr. Paul Farmer and his mission to conquer diseases, infections or injuries among the poor countries. Paul Farmer believes that everyone should have the right of having access to health care.
Paul Farmer is an amazing and intelligent man who dedicates his life to treating some of the world's poorest populations, especially Haiti’s and Peru‘s. He helps raise the standards of health care in underdeveloped areas of the world. He was the founder of Partners in Health, an international non-profit organization that provides direct healthcare to all his people. The organization today treats approximately 1,000 patients daily for free in the Haitian countryside. The group also works to cure tuberculosis among the prisoners in Lima, Peru. He wants his patients to have access to clean water, food, a home and health care. He believes that health care is a human right.
b. Margaret Mead, a very famous anthropologist once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Paul Farmer and his colleagues embodies this idea by challenging the policymakers and critics who claimed that quality health care was impossible to be delivered in poor areas, such as Haiti and Peru. It was definitely possible with such an amazing physician that wants the best for his people by creating organizations that helps throughout Haiti and Peru and other countries.
Cristina Mazariegos
Having read the excerpt from Kidder’s Mountains Beyond Mountains I feel that Dr. Famer is very noble, but somewhat misguided in his actions. Before writing this post I had the privilege of reading the thoughts of others on our class blog. I couldn’t help but feel as though our class’s view of this man were generally too simplistic and optimistic. Forgive me for playing devil’s advocate, but I’d like to challenge some popular points of view. It is undeniable that Dr. Farmer is being both noble and generous with his talents by tending to Haiti’s needy, but I feel that his particular expertise would be valued much higher in the medical community of Boston than in the villages of Haiti. Why take a man who is so well learned and experienced in his field and put him in Haiti to put a temporary bandage on the needy? Could a doctor of lesser expertise and skill not do the same job as Dr. Farmer? Wouldn’t Dr. Farmer’s brilliant mind be of much more value in Boston directly finding the cure for AIDS? I understand that Dr. Farmer may feel a moral calling to help those in need, but I believe that the best way for him to help would be to aid in finding the cure in Boston. Dr. Farmer has a gift in his medical practice, and God calls us to use our gifts to their fullest potential. For Dr. Farmer to fully utilize his gift, I’m of the opinion that he should be working with medicine’s elite to find a cure.
I have no doubt that Dr. Farmer can embody Mead’s quote, but I struggle to say that he does at the moment. Surely Dr. Farmer and his medical team are making an impact in the world by aiding the people of Haiti; others would be wise to do their part and help others as selflessly as he has. With that being said, I believe that Dr. Farmer should be spending his time with the thoughtful committed citizens of Boston’s medical elite to help change the world. With his medical knowledge and expertise, Dr. Farmer would be the ideal candidate to help lead groundbreaking discoveries of the Boston medical community. Although Farmer does spend some time in this community, he would be better served by becoming a fully “committed” citizen and staying in Boston.
a) I found this excerpt from Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder to be absolutely intriguing. Doctor Paul Farmer's decision to live eight months out of the year in impoverished Haiti is very commendable. It seems that the majority of people who pursue a career in medicine do so chiefly because of the likelihood of a high salary, not out of the pure desire to help others. Doctor Paul Farmer, however, embodies the exact opposite of this generalization. As presented in this book, he seems incredibly selfless and genuinely concerned with the welfare of the sick and injured. His quirky and unusual sense of humor makes him even more appealing and personable to the reader. In short, Doctor Farmer's work is incredible and he if Tracy Kidder has accurately portayed him, then Paul Farmer is someone we should all try to emulate.
b)Dr. Paul Farmer truly brings Margaret Mead's words to life. He has made an incredible impact on medicine and on the lives of many Haitians, and as an individual he has accomplished more than many large groups of people could. Dr. Farmer's talent and commitment to his cause of helping people in medical need is remarkable to say the least.
a. I enjoyed reading the excerpt from the novel. I thought it showed the power of one man and the difference he made in the world. This novel was able to grasp the life in poor, rural, and suffering areas. I learned a lot and realized how lucky I am to have healthcare. I think that Dr. Paul Farmer is an extraordinary man who uses all his talents to help people around him. He is a real life hero dedicated to helping cure the sick and the poor. By just reading the first section of this book I could understand what a noble man Dr. farmer is. I hope that one day I will be able to affect the world like he has.
b. Margaret Mead's words that a small group can change the world has been proven true by a man like Dr. Farmer. He is able to save hundreds of lives and bring healthcare to those in rural areas. Farmer is a committed citizen to change the world. As expressed in the novel, Farmer will not go to bed until his job of helping others is done for the day. Dr. Farmer is able to change the world with one person at a time.
a. From reading the first 40 pages of mountains beyond mountains I gained a sense of what the message of the story was. Go through with what you believe is right. In Dr. Farmers case he was willing to sacrifice anything to help those in need of medical attention, especially in rural or third world countries, such as Haiti. Dr. Farmer is a noble character. He is one that vividly impacts the reader as they read of his dedication to better the medical care in the world.
b. Margaret Mead's words are ones to live by. Never underestimate the power of one human, for their strive and dedication to make a change can have an empowering impact on the world. One, like Dr. Farmer can achieve anything they strive for, if they are willing to make the sacrifices that come along the way.
a. The excerpt from Mountains Beyond Mountains was exceptionally moving and quite inspirational. Dr. Paul Farmer was a humble man who was quite dedicated to his work. He was so dedicated to helping others, that he would even walk five miles to their villages to help cure ill people. I believe that he was a selfless person who attained joy from helping other people. Dr. Farmer would create personal relationships with his patients which showed how much he cared about their well being. For example Dr. Farmer reached out to a homeless drug addict who had no one else to turn to. Dr. Farmer also gave up his salary he had earned in the U.S. and donated it to his charity program. Most people who want to become doctors do it out of a sense of wanting to help or cure diseased people. The difference with Dr. Farmer is that he doesn’t care about monetary attainment and is willing to sacrifice his own luxuries as a doctor from the United States.
b. There is a moment in chapter three where a local peasant speculates on Farmer, “God gives everyone a gift and his gift is healing” (27). I believe that this quote reflects Dr. Farmer’s impact on the Haitian people, and clearly embodies Margaret Mead’s quote about the impact individuals can make. For instance when Dr. Farmer was working at Thomas J. White Tuberculosis Center there were over thirty people in the hallway waiting to be cured when he arrived. One sixteen year old boy weighed only sixty six pounds. Dr. Farmer diagnosed him with an ulcer. Farmer even jokes, “I’ll take great pleasure in violating the principle of cost-efficacy” (25), when he gives the boy hundreds of dollars worth of Ensure to help him regain weight. In this one example we can see how Dr. Farmer has made a difference in this boy’s life by spending his own money to save him from starvation. This is just one case of many where Dr. Farmer’s commitment to the welfare of the Haitian people echoes Margaret Mead’s quote.
(a) I thoroughly enjoyed reading the excerpt of Mountains Beyond Mountains. Tracy Kidder did an excellent job of portraying the good deeds of Dr. Paul Farmer. His good doings are inspiring, powerful, and unforgettable. It was surprising to me that such a man is not well-known. Being that I have never heard, read, or seen of him, I was intrigued to learn of the great healing this doctor has performed. The accounts of his curing are magical. To enter rural areas of great poverty and perform selfless acts is magnificent. The excerpt urged me to open my heart and although I am not a doctor of such knowledge as Farmer, we can all do small acts to create great differences.
(b) Margaret Mead's powerful words directly correlate with the doings of Paul Farmer. He incorporates this idea in his everyday life by being one man impacting many. I am sure many have doubted him achieving great numbers of curing, but he has done the unthinkable. He has proved that with faith, commitment, and determination, a small group was able to change the world.
a. I thought that Mountains Beyond Mountains was an eye opening excerpt. I am truly happy that I have read this book because everybody can learn from Paul Farmer, and what he has done with his life no matter what they do. Dr. Paul Farmer is a "saint" as said by many, and it was amazing that he would do things such as give up his US salary to help patients without money in Haiti. I find it remarkable that there is only on book about him.
b. Margaret Mead once said "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has." Dr. Paul Farm embodies this idea by doing what many doctors have not done, or would ever do. He has been deprived of living the life of a wealthy U.S. doctor, as he could have easily chosen to do. Instead he spends his time helping dying patients in Haiti try to survive. He has shaped the country into a nation that is trying to improve their life, whereas before they were complacent to their life of poverty, HIV, and death. Paul Farmer explains what Margaret Mead was thinking about through his life changing actions.
Scott Lippstreu
A.I enjoyed reading this excerpt from Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder about the journey of Dr. Paul Farmer and how he set out to conquer health care in the rural areas of Haiti by finding ways to cure or treat many diseases and health problems. I thought that this excerpt was very intriguing because it showed how Dr. Paul Farmer went to the rural areas of Haiti to help people in dire need of care , instead of living good normal life as a regular doctor. I also think that Dr. Farmer should be considered a hero or even a saint as many other people think he is because he gave up basically his whole life and the life of his family to devote himself to helping cure many sick people who can’t afford to have health care. I also agree with Dr. Farmers compelling theory that everyone deserves universal health care because everyone deserves the right to have good health. I am surprised that he hasn’t received any honors such as the noble peace prize.
B.Dr. Farmer and his colleagues embodies Mead’s theory in many ways. He does this by devoting his life and his skills to helping the people in the rural areas of Haiti with their health. Because of Dr. Farmer health clinic many health problems such as infant mortality and hiv/aids decreased. Dr. farmer also explained in the excerpt that when the US government tried to do something in Haiti, nothing changed, everyone still lived in poverty without better health care, law, or better rulers; this shows that big organizations don’t help at all. Only small organizations like Dr. farmers one can help change anything.
a. I thought that this excerpt from this book was very interesting. I had never read much about Haiti, and didn’t know that it was so poor and had so many sick people with such poor health care. I thought it was amazing that Dr. Paul Farmer wanted to take it upon himself to help every sick person that came up to him. Almost all doctors want to become doctors so they can help people, but not on the level in which Farmer is helping people. I was also surprised that he was familiar with every kind of problem that each person had, and that he knew how to cure it. One can tell he is very, very educated and knows exactly what he was doing, opposed the inexperienced Haitian doctors. He was extremely nice to each person he helped, and made that person feel better mentally and physically.
b. Paul Farmer embodies this idea because he is a man who wanted to help out a community in need and make it a better place for everybody living there. Although he hasn’t literally changed the whole world, he has helped out many people in need and made their lives much better. He is helping the Haitians by raising awareness about diseases and how to prevent them, and has given them hope that their lives will become better. Like Mead said, it takes a special someone like Dr. Farmer to change the world.
A) This excerpt from the book was very powerful. It really brought to life the qualities that Dr. Paul Farmer exemplifies in his life while working as a doctor. He lives his life as a compassionate human being dedicated to helping others.
B) Dr. Paul Farmer lives this idea every day by changing the world himself. He works on helping others every day and lets his actions be an example to others. Paul Farmer himself changes the lives of a few people, but together the people he influences can change the world.
a. The excerpt from the novel was very powerful and did a good job of portraying Dr. farmer's character. Dr. Farmer is a remarkable person. He has so much love and care for everyone who needs help. He is so dedicated to what he is doing that he is very selfless and doesn't think of his own needs at all so that he can focus completely on helping others. In the book, his patients described him as a saint. He rejected this title, but i think that it explains is nature very accurately. He is a humble man who chooses to devote his life and time into helping others and causing change.
B. Dr. Paul Farmer embodies the quote by Margaret Mead, because he is changing the world. His small group, the Partners for Health, have brought change to so many peoples lives. Dr. Farmer does so many good deeds to help people that at the time may seem small, but in the big picture they have had a greater effect on the people, their families and friends, and the community.
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