Confronting Inhumanity Through Medicine | Christos Christou, MD

Nov 15, 2022

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When it comes to medical humanitarianism, there is no bigger name than Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known in English as Doctors Without Borders. MSF is renowned for its work in regions affected by armed conflict, endemic diseases, and natural disasters. In this episode, we are joined by Cristos Christou, MD, a Greek surgeon who has served as the international president of MSF since 2019. As a field doctor, he has worked in South Sudan, Iraq, Cameroon, and various other conflict zones. Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Christou takes us into the trenches of his medical work in caring for some of the most vulnerable people in the world, shares how he finds meaning and hope amid the depths of human suffering, and discusses the challenges to global health today.

In this episode, you will hear about:

How the values of his self-described “rustic” childhood led Dr. Christou into medicine - 2:28
How Dr. Christou’s time in university shaped his life philosophy - 3:27
The history and mission of Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders - 5:59
What it is like to practice medicine in regions affected by armed conflict and natural disasters - 8:13
Dr. Christou’s journey in MSF, from when he first heard of it to how he became its leader - 10:42
Lessons learned on finding meaning in medicine in some of the most resource-limited settings - 13:41
Dr. Christou’s stories of inspiring hope in patients even during incredibly challenging times - 16:19
A discussion of the dangers faced by clinicians who work with MSF - 19:54
The significance of bearing witness to suffering in giving a voice to vulnerable patients - 23:11
A discussion of the major threats to global health today: climate change, epidemics, and war - 26:25
Advice for new clinicians who wish to tackle issues in global health - 30:00

Follow Dr. Christos on Twitter @DrChristou.

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