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    Press Release
    Sutter Regional Medical Foundation

    Ten Questions with Dr. Nancy Kaplan: Local Podiatrist Makes Time for Medical Mission - September 20, 2008
    By Nika Megino (Daily Republic)

    1. How long have you been working with Sutter?
    Six years.

    2. When and why did you first decide to go into medicine? I originally wanted to be a veterinarian and worked at a pet hospital.
    When I turned 18, I got my EMT license and totally switched over to people. From then on, I knew I'd be pre-med.

    3. Why did you go into podiatry?
    I was working in a dialysis unit and was encouraged to talk to a podiatrist across the street about his practice. I really enjoyed his practice and the fact that he sees people with a certain problem, fix it and they went away happy. (In podiatry) your patients really do well. They go on and achieve personal goals.

    4. You recently went to Mexico for a medical mission. Where did you go and how many patients did you treat?
    The Hospital del Sagrado Corazón in Tijuana. We saw about 320 patients.

    5. Was this your first medical mission trip?
    I've been doing charity work out of the country since 1994 and stopped in 1998 because I had been traveling, got married and had a baby.

    6. How did you get started on medical missions?
    I went on my first medical mission in '94 with LIGA International. I just interpreted (in Spanish).

    7. What is LIGA International?
    A nonprofit organization that provides free health care and education to Mexican communities.

    8. What attracted you to charity work?
    I had this idea that it would be good to use a skill that could help people from a third-world country. I think when you have a skill such as being a physician,it's part of your responsibility to help, to take care of the village.

    9. What are the challenges of charity work?
    Resources. There are very little resources there, and we have so many great social resources here (at Sutter). There, they're just out of luck.

    10. How would you describe the experience?
    Gratifying. It's great. These are kids who really wouldn't ever walk normally again (if they didn't have surgery).

    At a glance
    Dr. Nancy Kaplan
    Podiatrist, Sutter Regional Medical Foundation
    2700 Low Court, Fairfield