LocumLife - August 2008 - (Page 32)

DESTINATIONS La vita locum Memorable tales from the road Going to extremes From the grasslands of Africa to frigid arctic climes, Harry Owens Jr., MD, MIM, serves patients’ medical needs around the globe. Amy Sutton chill factor here, we are talking actual thermometer readings.” But experiencing Antarctica required more than just a warm parka and a long plane ride—Dr. Owens and his 1,100 McMurdo colleagues had to meet stringent physical requirements. “Everybody has to pass very strict physical and dental exams,” says Dr. Owens. “But the work is meaningful and we functioned well as a medical team.” A s a family medicine specialist, Dr. Owens has spent the majority of his clinical career caring for patients in remote, underserved areas. A physician since 1966, he has practiced in the Pacific Northwest, South Pacific, South America, Middle East, Eastern Europe, and even Africa—most of it on donated time. Over the years, he has gathered a wealth of experience with medical situations unfamiliar to most American practitioners, including leprosy, lion bites, and even wild buffalo gorings. “Working in Third World international settings, you gain expertise in tropical medicine and in administration. In these remote regions, you learn how to work without the aid of amenities such as electricity and X-ray equipment. Only recently have I begun to take ‘official’ locum tenens opportunities.” FROM AFRICA TO ANTARCTICA After soaking up the sun on the African Serengeti for the last 4 years, Dr. Owens decided to swap a sweltering climate for a frigid one. Through a contact, he learned of an opportunity in the Antarctic, available with Raytheon Polar Services, headquartered in Centennial, Colorado. During the past two summers, August through February, Dr. Owens served as the lead physician at McMurdo Station in Antarctica. He was drawn to this opportunity because of the positive impact the research there has had on the environment and international community. According to Dr. Owens, the Antarctic climate lives up to its severe weather reputation.“At McMurdo, it gets down to -60°F to -80°F. We are not counting wind 32 LocumLife AUGUST 2008 “It is the ‘Last Frontier’ in some respects.” —Harry Owens, Jr., MD, MIM complication of viral infection. Once stabilized, the patients were taken out by Medivac. Additionally, they prepared for mass casualty incidents. And for special situations, he and his staff had access to medical specialists at the University of Texas in Galveston Medical Center via teleconferencing.” UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY Referring to his time in Antarctica as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Dr. Owens observes, “It is the ‘Last Frontier’ in some respects. And it is challenging medical work, too.” For physicians considering locum tenens opportunities on the continent, Dr. Owens notes that a sense of adventure and desire to form lasting relationships enhances the experience. Camaraderie and a contribution to meaningful work are the main rewards of this type of practice, not financial gain, he says.“It is not a place to go if your main objective is to make money—but you will have a phenomenal adventure.” Dr. Owens, who enjoys spending downtime at his cabin in the Pacific Northwest, plans to co-facilitate a oneweek nature retreat in the Northeast this summer. Then, it will be back to Antarctica in October as lead physician on the Last Frontier. LL References can be found online at www.LocumLife.com. Amy Sutton is a freelance writer based in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. www.LocumLife.com SETTING UP THE STATION As lead physician, Dr. Owens starts in mid-August during “winfly,” a 6-week period before summer, to prepare the base for the upcoming research season. Once the second doctor and rest of the medical team arrive in October, the lead doctor divides his or her time between administrative and clinical duties. “The contract at McMurdo required 6-day, 54-hour week coverage. We only got Sunday off, and if you are management, you can expect to put in more than 9-hour days. Night call was shared among the doctors and PA or NP, and we would alternate Sundays equally.” At McMurdo’s three-bed facility, Dr. Owens most often treated colds, sore throats, frostbite and cold-related conditions, and overuse injuries, as expected in personnel working in extreme temperatures. “Last year, we had a pretty sizeable influenza outbreak, even though we immunized a lot of people.” Dr. Owens and his staff also treated several cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, an uncommon neurological http://www.LocumLife.com http://www.LocumLife.com

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LocumLife - August 2008

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