Eric A. Orzeck, MD

"If you can help people in any way, you should do it"

What does a busy endocrinologist do with limited free time? Eric A. 0rzeck divides his between improving medical care on a remote American Indian reservation and serving as the neighborhood handyman for needy seniors in his hometown of Houston.

Orzeck's commitment to the Makah Indian Reservation in Washington state was sparked by his father. Nearly 60 years ago, the elder Orzeck was stationed there as a physician for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Although the family left when 0rzeck was 3 years old, they kept in touch with Mimi Washburn, whose family owned the general store.

Several years ago, Washburn informed Orzeck of the reservation's economic predicament. "They have very little income because they're so isolated," the doctor explains. "A treaty with Canada curtailed their fishing, and for many years, the endangered species designation of the gray whale denied the Makah their whaling rights. I went to see the conditions for myself, and realized that I had to help these people."

With $25,000 in contributions from drug companies, Orzeck purchased items such as wheelchairs, walkers, and hospital beds, and shipped them to the reservation. The most impressive purchase was a portable defibrillator, which now provides life-saving treatment for heart patients en route to the nearest hospital, located 70 miles down a narrow, twisting road.

In addition, Orzeck personally donated a retinal camera. "Before this machine arrived," says Belva Weston, the reservation's public health nurse, "many of the elders refused to spend an entire day in the nearest town witting to get their eyes checked." Orzeck brought the nurse to Houston to make sure she learned how to use the machine properly. "He let me practice by taking pictures of his eyes," Weston says. "That was really neat."

Two or three times a year, Orzeck visits the reservation to treat patients. "This work allows me to give of myself," he says. "Although I see all types of patients. I feel especially good addressing the serious diabetes problem on the reservation."

When the Makah people hear of Orzeck's arrival, many make appointments to see him. "Some doctors who come here just do the minimum." says Weston. "but Eric Orzeck has high standards and does the most he can for every person."

He does the same back in Texas, Using skills he learned as a child, when his family moved frequently--often into homes that needed work--Orzeck makes free electrical, plumbing, and air conditioning repairs for impoverished elderly citizens.

Recently, he replaced a refrigerator door seal that was so brittle the condensation fluid continuously leaked onto the kitchen floor of a woman's home. Locating and installing the installing the correct seal took Orzeck approximately four days.

It's difficult to find volunteers who are both skilled enough to do the work and generous with their time, says Jack Meyers, the assistant manager of the senior services office. "But Dr. Orzeck is always ready--and he never refuses a job."

As Orzeck heads toward retirement, he hopes to have more time for his voluntary efforts, which also include public speaking on behalf of the American Diabetes Association. "Donating money is important, he says, "but it's much more rewarding to touch people's lives personally. If you have the ability to help them in any way, I think you should do it."

This article was printed in Medical Economics, 10/11/99