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POPULATION
HEALTH

An anesthesiologist in Ecuador —

A Doctor on a Mission

By Paul Barton, MD

Recently, a colleague and I were discussing our respective biogra- consuming through medical school and surgery residency and I
phies when he learned that part of my career included working as a didn’t cope well. Ultimately I changed to anesthesia. Recently, a
missionary anesthesiologist in Ecuador. He then asked if I’d share colleague here in San Antonio, told me that he chose anesthesiology
these experiences here and it’s my pleasure to do so. partly because he saw the sour soul I’d become as I was consumed
by struggling to keep afloat while a surgical resident. I see that God
My journey began as early as middle school when I “happened” was protecting me and leading me from surgery to anesthesia and
to apply to Health Careers High School in San Antonio only because then overseas. Again, what I was lacking and only understood dimly
a friend was also applying, rather than pursuing engineering as I was the role of God and how he informed all of life. My under-
thought I would. Through my experience at Health Careers and standing of God’s role was one who saves the soul, while my part of
later at Wheaton College, my understanding of how doctors could the bargain was to do what I saw as the ultimate good — being a
impact the world developed. Concurrently, my understanding of the medical missionary. That way I knew that everyday, no matter what
love and work of Jesus Christ for me began to form. How this has I was doing specifically, on the whole, I was serving God and making
gone from news to truth that informs all that I do has developed him happy with me.
ever since. I attended UT Southwestern Medical School with the
intention of being a medical missionary, believing that this would After considering our options and visiting various mission hospi-
allow my life to be lived for the good of others and, subtly believing tals, my family and I moved to Ecuador in the fall of 2007. We first
that it might improve my favor with God. The time during my lived in Quito for nine months to learn Spanish and then to our
medical education and initial surgery residency unfortunately lacked ministry site in the town of Shell in the summer of 2008. Dr. Suarez,
growth and closeness with God. I didn’t see clearly the connection an Ecuadorian trained anesthesiologist, and I split coverage at Hos-
of my faith and everyday life. Everyday life, it seemed, was truly all pital Vozandes del Oriente, the 30-bed mission hospital in Shell. We

18 San Antonio Medicine • February 2017