Posted 12:49 am Sunday, February 12, 2012
Three Dedicated Doctors Are Honored With Induction Into The Doctor Luke Society
By COSHANDRA DILLARD
Staff Writer
Medical practice is among the many occupations that Americans revere. They look to doctors for medical expertise, support and solace. But it takes a special doctor to go beyond what is taught in medical school. Today, social issues are often a determinant of one’s health. From financial hardships to language barriers, each patient presents his or her unique set of problems.
Recognizing these issues while providing quality medical care is what Bethesda Health Clinic officials say places this year’s Doctor Luke Society honorees in high esteem.
Staff Writer
Medical practice is among the many occupations that Americans revere. They look to doctors for medical expertise, support and solace. But it takes a special doctor to go beyond what is taught in medical school. Today, social issues are often a determinant of one’s health. From financial hardships to language barriers, each patient presents his or her unique set of problems.
Recognizing these issues while providing quality medical care is what Bethesda Health Clinic officials say places this year’s Doctor Luke Society honorees in high esteem.
Drs. Steven Hickerson, Richard Yates and Gary Gross will join a class of 23 others later this week during the annual ceremony. The recognition, which began in 2004, is based on the Bible’s Saint Luke, also known as the “beloved physician.”
Bethesda officials note that Luke’s writings reflect a commitment to respect all people, have concern for the poor, hope for God’s mercy and forgiveness of all.
In a time when the cost of health care continues to rise and obtaining health insurance may be impractical to many, the Bethesda Health Clinic has been charged with providing medical services to the working uninsured in Smith County. More than 10,000 have been served, receiving health education, routine exams and dental services at a low cost.
Bethesda officials note that Luke’s writings reflect a commitment to respect all people, have concern for the poor, hope for God’s mercy and forgiveness of all.
In a time when the cost of health care continues to rise and obtaining health insurance may be impractical to many, the Bethesda Health Clinic has been charged with providing medical services to the working uninsured in Smith County. More than 10,000 have been served, receiving health education, routine exams and dental services at a low cost.
Since 2003, hundreds of churches, other nonprofit entities and physicians have lent hours of volunteer time to offer their expertise for those who may not otherwise receive medical care.
“They’ve all volunteered to see our patients in their specialty field from early on,” John English, executive director at Bethesda, said. “Each one of these guys has tremendous dedication to their patients and to serve. They see a population from well-insured to under-insured. They give their very best to whomever they take care of.”
The 2012 inductees are appreciative for the work being done at Bethesda and its efforts to fill the gaps for those who fall through the cracks.
“They’ve all volunteered to see our patients in their specialty field from early on,” John English, executive director at Bethesda, said. “Each one of these guys has tremendous dedication to their patients and to serve. They see a population from well-insured to under-insured. They give their very best to whomever they take care of.”
The 2012 inductees are appreciative for the work being done at Bethesda and its efforts to fill the gaps for those who fall through the cracks.
“The community is very blessed to have entities that are trying to fill that need of the uninsured,” Hickerson said. “It can be expanded so it includes other groups to find that care outside of the emergency rooms.”
And they are humbled by the honor, but excited to be placed in company with other physicians they’ve admired.
“I was very honored, keeping in mind the hundreds of other volunteers that help out at the Bethesda clinic,” Yates said. “It’s an honor to bring light to the work the Bethesda Clinic does.”
Gross also said there are many other doctors, nurses, clergy and support staff who do just as much volunteer work for the clinic. He’s just doing what he was called to do.
“I’m totally honored to be listed in that group,” Gross said. “I’m mindful of the fact that there’s hundreds of thousands of people who dedicate their time and don’t get awards like this. … This is just me being me for the last 28 years and somebody noticed that. I’m just doing my thing.”
When a physician joins the Doctor Luke Society, his induction comes with a financial donation which helps fund services at the clinic.
“These are physicians of high standing and well respected in the community,” said LaVerne Gollob, this year’s Doctor Luke Society committee chairwoman.
She said there was a long list of deserving physicians who are evaluated by committee members and the Bethesda board of directors. The community’s feedback also helps with decision.
“There are so many of our supporters for the clinic that have just the highest regard for them,” Mrs. Gollob said. “It’s the respect that people in the Tyler community have for these doctors, how they relate to patients, how they get out in the community. They are very professional. They take their services (seriously) as a medical doctor, to be there for their patients and save their life. That’s what Bethesda is all about.”
The honor, she said, is often motivating for doctors to continue doing more charitable work at Bethesda and elsewhere.
“They always support Bethesda. They’ve been there and they know what it stands for,” she said. “We need to give back to the community. We need to help other people. That’s our calling: that we help other people.”
And they are humbled by the honor, but excited to be placed in company with other physicians they’ve admired.
“I was very honored, keeping in mind the hundreds of other volunteers that help out at the Bethesda clinic,” Yates said. “It’s an honor to bring light to the work the Bethesda Clinic does.”
Gross also said there are many other doctors, nurses, clergy and support staff who do just as much volunteer work for the clinic. He’s just doing what he was called to do.
“I’m totally honored to be listed in that group,” Gross said. “I’m mindful of the fact that there’s hundreds of thousands of people who dedicate their time and don’t get awards like this. … This is just me being me for the last 28 years and somebody noticed that. I’m just doing my thing.”
When a physician joins the Doctor Luke Society, his induction comes with a financial donation which helps fund services at the clinic.
“These are physicians of high standing and well respected in the community,” said LaVerne Gollob, this year’s Doctor Luke Society committee chairwoman.
She said there was a long list of deserving physicians who are evaluated by committee members and the Bethesda board of directors. The community’s feedback also helps with decision.
“There are so many of our supporters for the clinic that have just the highest regard for them,” Mrs. Gollob said. “It’s the respect that people in the Tyler community have for these doctors, how they relate to patients, how they get out in the community. They are very professional. They take their services (seriously) as a medical doctor, to be there for their patients and save their life. That’s what Bethesda is all about.”
The honor, she said, is often motivating for doctors to continue doing more charitable work at Bethesda and elsewhere.
“They always support Bethesda. They’ve been there and they know what it stands for,” she said. “We need to give back to the community. We need to help other people. That’s our calling: that we help other people.”
HUMILITY + SKILL
There are few infectious disease physicians in Tyler. The need is great, as the city serves as a hub of medical care for patients in neighboring communities. Dr. Steven Hickerson’s and Dr. Richard Yates’ contributions are magnified as they are among a few who treat HIV-positive patients in East Texas.
“If they didn’t step up to help us, particularly in the infectious disease, we’d have a huge deficiency to a service for our patients,” English said.
The doctors share an office with another partner in Tyler. They also volunteer at Bethesda to address the needs of patients there.
“The challenge is seeing the patients who don’t often have a lot of access to medical care and trying to provide for them a reliable health care setting where they can get counseling and HIV care, including the labs and medicines,” Yates said. “Our main goal is to help patients get better from an infection they’re suffering from, and on a broader scale, be part of a faith-based organization that helps those who need help.”
Yates admits he stumbled into medicine. He was a chemistry major and decided late in his college career to pursue medicine. He was in an internal medicine training program when he decided to pursue a fellowship in infectious disease.
Hickerson had a different motivation to enter the medical field: his brother had cerebral palsy. He was impressed by the care his brother’s doctor provided.
“I really think the significance of that role is that God was showing me that was the direction he wanted me to have,” Hickerson said. “I never deviated from that course.”
Hickerson was still in junior high when he made a firm commitment to become a doctor. His undergraduate degree is in microbiology. While he worked in a lab in Lubbock, he discovered he wanted to study infectious disease.
“God has an interesting way to reveal his plan for you,” Hickerson said.
Hickerson is optimistic about the future of HIV care, although he came short of saying he envisions a cure soon. With medication and proper care, he sees the disease as a manageable one, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
“HIV has changed so much since I started,” he said. “So much happened in regards to the options. People are able to return to pretty normal lives and have a good quality of life. Hopefully we’ll see (a cure) in our lifetime, but the best cure is prevention.”
Dr. Gross, a champion of improving health care access to the underinsured, didn’t focus on becoming a doctor early on. He majored in anthropology and history and had jobs as a short-order cook, framing carpenter and sandalmaker before settling into medicine, which he found was an opportunity to make a difference.
He said he understands that compassion is a large slice of medical practice. Patients don’t always adhere to a doctors’ advice and circumstances at home prevent them from following up.
After practicing medicine in Tyler for nearly three decades, he realizes doctors have to give up the ego, and not get frustrated when patients don’t do what is recommended.
As an oncologist and cancer survivor, Gross knows firsthand how “unbelievably expensive” cancer treatments can be. New doctors may be overwhelmed with those complexities that play into a patients care, he said.
“Life is way more complicated than that,” Gross said. “People have thousands of problems and living with limited resources. Nobody wants to be sick. I’m just giving advice and I can’t drag them on their journey.”
Still, his focus is on treating patients — regardless of their circumstances — with respect.
“It comes with experience and humility,” Gross said. “I’m glad I lived long enough to get to that point in my life.”
“If they didn’t step up to help us, particularly in the infectious disease, we’d have a huge deficiency to a service for our patients,” English said.
The doctors share an office with another partner in Tyler. They also volunteer at Bethesda to address the needs of patients there.
“The challenge is seeing the patients who don’t often have a lot of access to medical care and trying to provide for them a reliable health care setting where they can get counseling and HIV care, including the labs and medicines,” Yates said. “Our main goal is to help patients get better from an infection they’re suffering from, and on a broader scale, be part of a faith-based organization that helps those who need help.”
Yates admits he stumbled into medicine. He was a chemistry major and decided late in his college career to pursue medicine. He was in an internal medicine training program when he decided to pursue a fellowship in infectious disease.
Hickerson had a different motivation to enter the medical field: his brother had cerebral palsy. He was impressed by the care his brother’s doctor provided.
“I really think the significance of that role is that God was showing me that was the direction he wanted me to have,” Hickerson said. “I never deviated from that course.”
Hickerson was still in junior high when he made a firm commitment to become a doctor. His undergraduate degree is in microbiology. While he worked in a lab in Lubbock, he discovered he wanted to study infectious disease.
“God has an interesting way to reveal his plan for you,” Hickerson said.
Hickerson is optimistic about the future of HIV care, although he came short of saying he envisions a cure soon. With medication and proper care, he sees the disease as a manageable one, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
“HIV has changed so much since I started,” he said. “So much happened in regards to the options. People are able to return to pretty normal lives and have a good quality of life. Hopefully we’ll see (a cure) in our lifetime, but the best cure is prevention.”
Dr. Gross, a champion of improving health care access to the underinsured, didn’t focus on becoming a doctor early on. He majored in anthropology and history and had jobs as a short-order cook, framing carpenter and sandalmaker before settling into medicine, which he found was an opportunity to make a difference.
He said he understands that compassion is a large slice of medical practice. Patients don’t always adhere to a doctors’ advice and circumstances at home prevent them from following up.
After practicing medicine in Tyler for nearly three decades, he realizes doctors have to give up the ego, and not get frustrated when patients don’t do what is recommended.
As an oncologist and cancer survivor, Gross knows firsthand how “unbelievably expensive” cancer treatments can be. New doctors may be overwhelmed with those complexities that play into a patients care, he said.
“Life is way more complicated than that,” Gross said. “People have thousands of problems and living with limited resources. Nobody wants to be sick. I’m just giving advice and I can’t drag them on their journey.”
Still, his focus is on treating patients — regardless of their circumstances — with respect.
“It comes with experience and humility,” Gross said. “I’m glad I lived long enough to get to that point in my life.”
