cover of episode The world’s most important doctor to millions in the war-torn and remote villages of Sudan | Tom Catena, M.D. (#40 rebroadcast)

The world’s most important doctor to millions in the war-torn and remote villages of Sudan | Tom Catena, M.D. (#40 rebroadcast)

2023/11/20
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Tom Catena: 我在大学时期就立志从事医疗传教工作，尽管专业背景不同，但我最终选择医学作为实现这一目标的途径。在肯尼亚的早期经历让我意识到非洲医疗工作的巨大挑战，患者数量和疾病种类都远超我的预期。从肯尼亚到苏丹努巴山区，我的决定源于对苏丹内战中医疗服务匮乏现状的关注。内战爆发后，我选择留下，因为离开会让当地居民失去唯一的医疗资源。在缺乏先进设备和技术的情况下，我通过向其他医生学习，积累了丰富的外科手术经验，这相当于再次进行了住院医师培训。在战乱中，我经历过多次空袭，也目睹过无数伤员的痛苦，这给我带来了巨大的心理压力和情感创伤。但我通过信仰、努巴人民的韧性以及对工作的专注来应对这些挑战。努巴山区人民的社区意识很强，他们乐于互相帮助，这与西方社会的个体主义观念形成鲜明对比。我在这里感觉比在美国更像家，这体现了我对当地社区的归属感和对工作的热爱。努巴山区人民的死亡原因与西方社会截然不同，他们死于传染病和创伤，而非慢性病和自残。我对物质财富的追求很少，我认为拥有过多的物质只会增加生活的复杂性。努巴山区人民的生活虽然艰苦，但他们展现出了令人敬佩的韧性和对生活的热爱，这给了我力量。 Peter Attia: 汤姆·卡特纳医生是苏丹努巴山区唯一的一名医生，在战乱和偏远地区为数十万人提供医疗服务，这在个人挽救的生命数量上是无与伦比的。与西方国家普遍存在的慢性病和自残不同，努巴山区的人们死于传染病和创伤，这反映了不同地区生活方式和死亡原因的巨大差异。汤姆医生的工作让我对西方社会的一些问题有了新的思考。努巴山区人民的社区意识很强，他们乐于互相帮助，即使是陌生人也会得到帮助和庇护，这与西方社会的个体主义观念形成鲜明对比。汤姆医生在努巴山区的工作，以及他所展现出的奉献精神和人文关怀，都值得我们敬佩和学习。

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Tom Catena, a missionary physician, discusses his journey into medicine and his decision to dedicate his life to serving underserved communities in Africa. He shares his early experiences in Kenya, highlighting the stark contrast in patient volume and the range of diseases compared to his residency training in the US.
  • Desire to do mission work began in college.
  • Transitioned from mechanical engineering to medicine to pursue this path.
  • Initial experience in Kenya was marked by high patient volume and diverse diseases.

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To support Tom’s mission and work, please visit: https://africanmissionhealthcare.org/donation/catena/.

 

In this episode, Tom Catena, a missionary physician who runs Mother of Mercy Hospital in the Nuba Mountains in Sudan, describes some of his extraordinary work as the only doctor in a remote, war-torn region of Africa. In terms of individual lives saved, you could argue that there is no other person on the front lines doing more than Tom. Additionally, we explore the manner in which the Nuba people die, which is in striking contrast to the ubiquity of chronic disease and self-harm in the West, despite the extreme poverty and unimaginable suffering experienced by the Nuba people. Lastly, we discuss the lessons to be gleaned from the Nuba people, who, despite their suffering, live so harmoniously, happily, and resiliently.

We discuss:

  • Background, medical training, and early days of missionary work in Africa [5:15];
  • Tom arrives at Mother of Mercy Hospital in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan, civil war breaks out, and his staff evacuates [12:30];
  • Learning surgery on the job and earning the trust of the community [37:00];
  • The amazing people of Nuba, and why Nuba feels like home to Tom [47:45];
  • NY Times article about Tom’s work, and Tom’s new venture on the board of the Aurora Prize Foundation, raising awareness and funds for other missionaries [59:45];
  • Tom’s mind-blowing ability to deal with chaos while seeing hundreds of patients per day [1:12:00];
  • The most afraid Tom has ever been, and how he copes with the emotional trauma of his daily experiences [1:19:45];
  • The basic tools, technologies, and medicines that Tom is lacking that could save many lives [1:30:00];
  • The logistical challenge of helping Tom’s hospital, and what Tom really needs [1:35:15];
  • Diseases in the adult population [1:38:30];
  • Living without possessions, finding meaning, and being a missionary [1:55:45];
  • Happiness, sense of purpose, and suicide: contrasting the US with Nuba [2:07:15];
  • Other than donations, is there a way people can help Tom and other similar causes? [2:15:15];
  • The food in Nuba [2:18:30];
  • Tom’s annual bout of malaria [2:23:45];
  • Patients Tom will never forget [2:26:00];
  • Resources for people wanting to get involved in helping Tom’s work [2:31:00];
  • Peter tells a story that defines Tom [2:32:00]; and
  • More.

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