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[Odler]

Between the golf course, the pool, the beach, and La Cana Merengue

Club, the 200+ physicians, their friends, their families, and the

single crowd (total 450), who took the trip to Casa de Campo, DR,

this year, had little time to dedicate to what they were there for:

discuss the latest in research and therapy, make the AMHE

(Association of Haitian-born Physicians) stronger.

Those who could wake up early enough to make it to the morning

conferences, found them highly updated and informative. The speakers

took a great deal of care to prepare and deliver.

The meeting took place from July 21 to 28. It was preceded by a week

of volunteering in the bateys where 15 physicians delivered care to

the cane cuters living in sub-human conditions. Steps were taken to

make this program permanent.

Casa de Campo is a resort located in La Romana on the Southeastern

part of the island. It takes a 90-minute bus ride to make it there

from Santo Domingo, the country's capital.

The area is a relatively new development with scores of villas and

multi-million dollar mansions hidden on the beach. Most are foreign-

owned, I was told, owned my foreign dictators and drug lords.

Though the area was ideal for this type of convention, I prefer the

setting of Puerto Plata (Paradise Cove), in the northwest, where I

stayed a few years ago. The ambiance was much less sedate and the

interacting population with much denser.

The week was fun, fun, fun. The talent show of Thursday at Altos de

Chavon and the dinner dance on Saturday were the high notes.

Those who went with a mate had a great time. Those who made the trip

solo, found themselves in the painful dilemma to pick among many

choices who to have breakfast with, who to dine with, who to tail at

the beach, and who to dance with at night a the merengue club or at

Genesis.

Next year, the meeting is in Martinique, stuck as usual between the

last two Sundays of July.

As I am still recovering from DR, I keep thinking that I can't miss

so much fun and such a perfect opportunity to learn and to network.

You should not either, physicians or not...

http://www.jeanlouie.com/

(OdlerRobert Jeanlouie, Saturday, August 3, 2003)

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My wife and I would love to join the AMHE next join for the summer.

My wife is a nurse. Is that okay?

David,

Long Island, NY

...

Dave,

You are welcome in Martinique next year. Your wife and yourself.

Most people who participate at the yearly trip are relatives,

friends, colleagues, business contacts of the group members. More, your wife can also apply for CME credits.

Bring the kids, if you have any. I took Jonathan, my 10-year old

godson, with me this year. He had a blast. A week after he is back,

he is still talking non-stop about the experience. Next year, I will

take two of my goddaughters, the oldest ones.

You don't need to babysit them. There are kids' program.

You don't have to be of Haitian origin either. Dr. John Devon

(Guyanese) was much noticed for his talk on transplant, and his

attractive company...

OdlerRobert

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