Answering The Call

"The Call" was what prompted you to want to be a doctor and in "Answering The Call," you took those difficult pre-med courses in college, persevered through medical school and residency, and then triumphantly and joyfully entered private practice or academic life.

There's no doubt that you have already made an impact on the world. Yet, now you are hearing a new "Call." And contrary to popular opinion, it is not unusual for physicians to change directions.

Imhotep, the ancient Egyptian physician, changed directions and became a priest, architect of the great step pyramid at Saqqara, and advisor to the pharaoh.

Richard Seltzer was an accomplished surgeon when he started writing and publishing before deciding to become a full-time author.

Albert Schweitzer was a philosopher and theologian before he "answered the call" for a medical doctor by The Society of Evangelist Missions of Paris. Also a gifted organist, he used his musical skills to raise money for the medical mission he established in Gabon, West Africa, and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952.

Maybe you're saying you're no Imhotep, or Seltzer, or Schweitzer but...

Anthony Atkins, M.D., a family physician in Lima, Ohio, felt a burning desire to reach and impact the young African American males who came to his office with bullet wounds, the pregnant teenage girls, and those with multiple sexually-transmitted diseases. As a way to reach these kids, he settled on music and began to write song lyrics and collaborated with rappers to create "LifeStoryz: State of Emergency" a hip hop CD designed to help African American adolescents avoid violence, sex, and drugs.

What's your Undeniable Inner Knowing and Passion prodding you to do to be of Service?

Perhaps it's time to explore how your inspiration, capabilities and talents can make more of a difference in your community.