Physician Assistant Provides Aid in Africa

Six years ago, Hutu government "death squads" slaughtered much of the Tutsi minority in the small central African nation of Rwanda. Nearly one-tenth of the population died in less than three months, and hundreds of thousands of children were left behind as orphans.

Winnie Barron, a 1988 graduate of the physician assistant (PA) program at Duke University Medical Center, knew she must act. "As the crisis in Rwanda unfolded on television, I was simply appalled," said Barron, who lives in Brownsville, Ore. "I just knew I had to go there and do something."

Barron volunteered with an international medical relief team and during the relief mission she helped to save many lives, but one such life touched her soul. In Rwanda, Barron met a 5-year-old girl named Marie Nyirandorere, who had been trapped beneath a pile of her family members' bodies and was very close to death. She survived. Barron had hoped to adopt her, but she was called out of the country to care for another relief worker.

Although she lost track of Marie for many months, she had found her life's passion - helping the "other Maries" left behind by the genocide or whose parents died as a result of an AIDS epidemic and other diseases.

Barron returned to Africa in 1997 on a medical relief mission to Kenya. It was there that she met Dianah Nzomo, a local teacher. Together, they overcame political obstacles and managed to secure funding to establish the Makindu Children's Center, an orphanage in Kenya for children.

The center currently cares for about 100 children in the Makindu area, but hopes to reach out to hundreds more in other communities when resources permit. The center provides medicine, food, and emotional and educational support to children in need.

"I never would have guessed I would devote my life to work in Africa," said Barron. "People have been greatly supportive, but initially thought I was crazy ‚ the job was too big, too dangerous. But, it is perhaps the sanest thing I have ever done. I just love it."

Born in Massachusetts, Barron and her six siblings were raised in a household that established early the idea of giving what you can to people in need.

Her mother used to tell a story about a little girl who hadn't come home for dinner. Her worried father finds her at the beach, surrounded by dying starfish. The ocean had washed up thousands, and his daughter was tossing them back into the water to save them. Realizing the futility of his daughter's effort, he calmly told her that the job was hopeless. "But not to this one, Daddy," was her reply as she tossed one more toward the water.

"This story always comes to mind when I think something might be too big for me to make a difference," Barron said. "But I honestly believe that even when a situation is clearly overwhelming, as it was in Rwanda and Kenya, there is always something that can be done to help at least one person."

Her philosophy is echoed in the PA program at Duke. Here, graduates are encouraged to go out into the world and provide health care to communities in need ‚ and they do.

According to Vicki Scott, director of pre-clinical education for the PA program, Duke graduates regularly make a difference in the lives of others.

"Our students are an inspiration to me, and I feel so lucky to be a part of their education," said Scott. "In my years at Duke, I have been privileged to work with many selfless, dedicated and hard-working people, especially people like Winnie, who is simply wonderful. Everyone who meets her just loves her."

Barron researched many programs before deciding on Duke.

"I was impressed by the program and the people," said Barron. "Elsewhere I found the people haughty and distant, but at Duke they seemed 'heart-centered' and genuine. Anyone who works hard enough can get into a program and become a PA. Duke was looking for something beyond that."

Reggie Carter, director of the PA program, calls that something beyond "the intangible."

"We look for individuals who have a lot of self-confidence and a good deal of prior health care experience," said Carter. "It is very important to work hard and learn the medicine, but each patient is going to be different. As a good practitioner, you have to understand those differences, so we look for people who have an almost innate understanding of people. We try to further develop that 'intangible' in the program."

Barron's dedication to the people she has helped, and to the PA profession, earned her a distinguished alumnus award at commencement exercises last weekend.

"Her humanitarian background in the community in which she lives and in Africa reflect the basic goals of our program," said Carter. "We seek to educate people in primary care and to work in areas that are underserved. She represents the best of competent health care providers who are willing to take the time to help in areas outside of the United States. Winnie, and others like her, have blazed an international trail to help people who would not otherwise have access to health care."

To people with similar goals and aspirations, Barron offers this advice: "You can never be prepared. If you want to experience the world by doing something to help, don't go out there with grandiose plans. If you go to simply touch people's hearts, it will work. You will always find someone to help - one person to whom you can make a difference.

"In Africa, the people have very little. They live and they die with gratefulness - they honor every moment and cherish every day. I am very honored to be considered a distinguished alumnus of the program, but to tell you the truth, I already have my award."

It has been said that "although we cannot always add to the quantity of our daily lives, we can do wondrous things about their quality." Barron has taken steps to enrich the lives not only of those near to her (in Oregon, she is a PA at a primary care practice, volunteers as a paramedic and teaches emergency medical technician courses at a community college), but also of those 10,000 miles away.

Barron eventually found Marie Nyirandorere.

"She is healthy, happy, and reunited with her little brother," said Barron. "I sponsor both of them and plan to have them in my life and in my heart for many years to come."

To learn more about Winnie Barron, her work in Kenya, and how you can help, visit the web site <www.makindu.org>.