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Our Mission, Vision, and Values A letter from Joyce N. Barlin, MD A letter from Risheet Patel, M.D. |
A letter by Issam Koleilat To Whom It May Concern: I am writing this letter to describe to you a gem among blocks of coal, an undiscovered man who cares not for discovery, a sunrise in a world of moonless nights. I am writing to tell you of one Dr. Robert Paegelow (“Dr. Bob”). I am Issam Koleilat, a second year medical student at Albany Medical College. From the day I crossed that line and became a “medical student,” my choice to do so has only been solidified by what I have seen of Dr. Bob. He has inspired not only me, but many of my classmates. He gives stress-ridden, despairing, exam-focused students comfort, hope, and reassurance not only in themselves and their reasons for wanting to be physicians, but also in life after the intensity of training and in medicine as a whole. It is not easy to accomplish this, and Dr. Bob’s story has not been one of ease. He began his schooling in medicine relatively late in life, at age 36. Graduating at the top of his class, he had gone from star college football player to prodigal, all the while balancing his induction into medicine with his responsibilities as a husband and father. Like many students before, Dr. Bob graduated deep in debt, but unlike the majority, he did not pursue a high-paying subspecialty. Dr. Bob had more ambitious aspirations. Finishing training in family practice, Dr. Bob established that which many altruists describe and of which they dream, but which few have established or even seen. Dr. Bob opened the area’s first and only full-time, completely free clinic where no one is forces to pay that which they do not have, a clinic that is gracious for whatever its visitors are able to provide as recompense, but fully aware that the constituents it so voluntarily chose to serve are unable to do so regularly. This is a clinic or love, of faith, of brotherhood, of support, of understanding. This is the clinic of which we all dream, but for which too few have the dedication and ability to sacrifice. Seemingly a utopia, the clinic cannot sustain itself on these qualities. The financial situation is truly destitute. In fact, Dr. Bob has many a time been obliged to let his staff go, lacking another resort. They refuse to leave, allied to the same motivators that keep Dr. Bob positive, optimistic and hopeful. Countless fundraisers, bake sales, and other efforts by community individuals have always only crawled toward fulfilling the needs of the clinic. What Dr. Bob’s clinic, Koinonia Clinic, really needs is the capability to hire the right people to set his affairs in order. What he needs is the money to hire billing specialists, grant writers, even a social worker to help families complete Medicaid paperwork (which is probably the primary reason for lack of reimbursement), among others. This is the request of a simple concerned medical student, concerned for the extinction of men like this. Every time I shadow him, work with him, or even talk to him in the hallway, I pray I may be able to embody half the dedication and honor this caring man radiates. His patients love him, his staff loves him, his students love him, I love him, and I am confident if you met this humble man, a man who knows why he makes every day, and sleeps proud of his routine, that you will not be able to resist being as impressed as those of us already graced with his friendship. None could ask for a better mentor, doctor, or person. At the least, you really should see him smile! With the utmost of sincerity, Issam Koleilat |
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