This weekend I traveled for the second time to 'Oasis' with the 'Flying Doctors' to help run a free medical clinic for migrant farm workers. There were 7 physicians, 6 dentists, 1 chiropractor, 5 nurses, one physical therapist and many other assistants and volunteers. 'Oasis' is the name given to a clinic the school district in Thermal, Caifornia (Coachella Valley) has put on twice a year for 10 years in conjunction with the 'Flying Doctors'. It started small and now has evolved into a day long clinic where several thousand patients without insurance are given free medical and dental care. High School students give up their Saturday to act as interpreters. There is diabetes testing, nutritional services, aids testing and a great deal of information dispensed. Patients(often whole families)arrive before dawn to patiently wait in line to see a physician or dentist. It is very gratifying work but frustrating in that we have no followup. It is ironic that we are just a few miles from the wealth and glitz of Palm Springs. Thermal is just north of the Salton Sea where many of our fruits and vegetables are grown and picked in a hot dry and dusty hell hole by people with no health resources. I am a conservative of the old school but still feel that this treatment of people we use to pick our crops is wrong. Our health care delivery system is badly broken and driven by greed not the best results. Until our health care system is improved I will continue in my own small way to try to make a difference. At home, I am one of the few specialists that will see Medi-Cal patients although we all had our medical education subsidized.

Milt Camp started the organization in the Bay area in 1972 and was joined in 1975 by Dr. Dan Morgan (who has made 84 trips to 'Oasis' and rural Mexico). They are both still very active and the heart of the 'Flying Doctors'. The people who make up the Flying Doctors' and organize these trips to 'Oasis' and rural Mexico are the heros and the ones due the credit. My role is just to go and try to help. Those interested can Google 'Flying Doctors' or 'Los Medicos Voladores' find out how to volunteer or contribute. Contributions are tax deductible.

For my Rotary friends, the picture shows me in my Rotary T-shirt so I can should avoid a fine. The Coachella Valley Rotary Club is one of the sponsors.

Bill Kirby, M.D.