2012 Annual Meeting-Keynote: Good Medicine in Bad Places

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Colonel Edward Horvath, a physician in the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Corps, speaks about his experiences caring for soldiers and civilians in Iraq. He recounts his decision to join the military after previously leaving military service and raising a family. Throughout his deployments, he describes his work in medical missions, combat support hospitals, and military prisons. Horvath highlights the challenging medical cases he encountered, including treating tuberculosis, leishmaniasis, snake bites, and gunshot wounds. He also shares the emotional experiences of caring for injured children and saving the lives of enemy combatants, emphasizing the importance of treating everyone with compassion and dignity. Despite the hardships and dangers he faced, Horvath finds fulfillment in providing medical care and saving lives, particularly when he encountered a soldier he had previously treated. This soldier's mother expressed her gratitude for Horvath's role in saving her son's life, highlighting the impact of his work.

Keywords

Colonel Edward Horvath

U.S. Army Reserve Medical Corps

physician

Iraq

medical missions

combat support hospitals

tuberculosis

injured children

compassion