Each year we have the honor of celebrating the life and service of an individual or couple that exemplifies the spirit of the organization and its founder, Msgr. Anthony Brouwers.
Msgr. Brouwers founded Mission Doctors Association in 1959, after he traveled through Africa following a Marian Conference in Nigeria. As the director of the Propagation of the Faith in Los Angeles, he wanted to offer the Archdioceses’ support to local clergy, so he set out across the continent. Everywhere he went, the request was the same: send us individuals willing to lend a hand in their professional capacities who can provide medical care and education in the schools and hospitals. He returned to Los Angeles with a new vision and a heart on fire.
These individuals and couples have served and supported making this Mission of Hope and Healing possible.
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In 1987, Dr. Guzek embarked on his first mission trip to Ruhunu Eye Hospital in Welligama, Sri Lanka. This would mark the beginning of a lifelong dedication to fighting blindness and restoring sight in places around the world with little to no access to care. The Guzeks’ service with Mission Doctors Association began
in 1998 at Margret Marquart Catholic Hospital in Ghana, where they ambitiously established an eye clinic and their remarkable efforts led to the hospital’s recognition as a teaching facility by the West African College of Surgeons in only 18 months. Here they went on to train Ghanaian medical professionals who ultimately took over the work.
Throughout the years, the Guzeks have continued their mission work in various countries, including Ethiopia, South Sudan, Ecuador, and most recently, the Nuba Mountains of Sudan, where Dr. Guzek collaborated with the renowned Dr. Tom Catena. Their impact extends beyond immediate care as they have provided restored sight, hope to families, and training for others to continue this vital work.
Dr. Meade received his undergraduate education at the University of Notre Dame and his Medical Degree from Albany Medical College in NY. He did his general surgery residency training at New York Medical College and his surgery fellowship training at San Bernardino County Hospital, he also did trauma/critical care fellowship training at King/Drew Medical Center in Los Angeles. Meade worked as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery and Director of the Surgery Clerkship Program at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, and has received many teaching awards including two from the Owl Club at Tulane University School of Medicine for “Best Teacher” (2010) and “Best Surgery Attending” (2011).
This award was presented to Dr. Meade for his lifelong service in some of the most remote areas of the world. Peter has served with 18 medical missionary organizations in 26 countries to date-willing to serve when and where his skills as a surgeon and teacher could be of the most use.
Msgr. began his work with the Propagation of the Faith in 2004, the same year he became pastor at St. Brendan’s Catholic Church, where he is now in residence as pastor emeritus.
In 1990, Msgr. Fleming founded the Adopt A Family program serving families in the downtown and skid row area of Los Angeles. His vision has been to make sure every child living in this area had a magical Christmas, and this has been a true blessing for so many families.
Both a Knight of the Holy Sepulcher and Chaplain of the Knights of Malta, Msgr. Fleming has made several trips to Lourdes on their yearly pilgrimages. He has lead groups of lay men and women on visits to the Holy Land and also coordinated these trips for groups of Archdiocesan priests for over 15 years while he served as Vice Chancellor and Vicar General.
From Haiti, Guatemala, and Ecuador, to managing a clinic for about 250 indigent HIV-infected patients closer to home, Dr. Shandera has offered his services to those in need as an expression of his faith. He is a graduate of Rice University and of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He did postgraduate training in internal medicine at the Stanford University teaching hospitals and in infectious diseases at the Massachusetts General Hospital, a principal Harvard University teaching affiliate. In addition, he served as an Epidemic Intelligence Officer with the Centers for Disease Control and in 1981, submitted with Los Angeles colleagues the first report of a syndrome now referred to as AIDS. Wayne has lectured and presented data in over 25 countries. Wayne’s other talents are at a keyboard, having played throughout his undergraduate and medical training.
He has served as a volunteer organist at the Chapel of St. Basil with the University of St. Thomas in Houston, and in 2019 performed a charity Mother’s Day Concert at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angeles to benefit Mission Doctors Association.
The award is in recognition of their faith and service to their community and world.
The dedication of Pat and Nora Ryan for the life-saving care of Mission Doctors has taken many forms.” said Elise Frederick, Executive Director of Mission Doctors Association. “From their Mission Service in Ghana, serving on the Board of Directors of Mission Doctors, Nora’s involvement in the Mission Doctors Auxiliary, and ten years of leadership on the Committee for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Annual Mass for Healthcare workers. Truly exemplary lives of faith and service.”
William H. Hannon established his Foundation in 1983, and today his niece Kathleen Hannon Aikenhead, serves as the Foundation’s president.
The tremendous work of the Hannon Foundation and the Foundation President, Kathleen Hannon Aikenhead, truly represents the global vision faith and service our founder, Msgr. Anthony Brouwers espoused. We are honored this evening to present this Founders award to Kathleen and the Hannon Foundation.
After serving in Kenya from 1990-1991, Mark and Molly Druffner were determined to continue to serve internationally. They arrived with their seven children in Bwambo, a remote location in rural Tanzania, in 2009, ready to work and see what God had for them. In doing so, they have made a remarkable impact. They continue to return every summer to that same location, and their consistency has made all the difference. When they first arrived, there were only six people on the staff at the hospital. Because of the Druffners’ commitment, there are now more than double that working to heal patients.
Mark and Molly recieved this award because they personify the heart of Mission Doctors: by following God’s call to heal the sick, they have impacted countless lives. They have raised money for an ambulance, improved patient care, and helped people who have no option for care. “The Druffners have transformed the site,” said Elise Frederick, Executive Director of Mission Doctors Association. “They are a magnet for change.”
These dedicated Mission Doctors have given more than 12 years caring for the patients in rural Africa and Latin America. The award is in recognition of their faith and service.
As a young married couple, Brent and Jennifer began their service with Mission Doctors providing healthcare in rural Ghana at Margaret Marquart Catholic Hospital. After returning, and having become a family of six, the two physicians began their service at Lake Atitlan, Guatemala along with their sons Christopher and Nicholas and their daughters Elizabeth and Julianne. With this three-year mission complete, they packed their bags and headed for West Africa once more. In 2013, to Njinikom, Cameroon to serve for three years at St. Martin de Porres Hospital in the Diocese of Bamenda.
This husband and wife team of family practice physicians have shared they have felt called to serve in the missions for a very long time. Brent said that he first considered mission work after experiencing the poverty of the developing world during a trip to Mexico, even before starting medical school. Jennifer noted “I believe we are part of a world community; that we must look beyond our borders to serve those in need…I feel that this is what I am being called to do”.
Dr. Louis (Lou) and Mrs. Martha (Marty) Coda originally met while serving in Bethel, Alaska through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. Lou and Marty have raised a family and continued to dedicate their lives to the service of others.
Lou and Marty started their service with Mission Doctors Association in Papua New Guinea, arriving at St Mary’s Hospital, Vunapope with their two young daughters in 1990. While there, the family grew with the birth of John, and after returning, another son Anthony in 1997.
They continue serving with MDA, sharing their passion for mission with others at the Retreat/Seminar, as well as additional service at Shisong Hospital in Cameroon and Mulole Hospital in the Diocese of Kabale, Uganda.
On one of their mission to Uganda, daughter Clare, who had just completed medical school at Drexel University, had an opportunity to serve alongside her father caring for young patients.
Jane had originally served with her husband, Dr. James Carey, and their young family in Zimbabwe in the 1960’s as members of Mission Doctors Association. Here Jane taught her own children and the children of other missionaries. The lasting impact of this experience gave rise to a life of service for the entire family at home in Santa Barbara and around the world. In memory of Dr. Carey the family created a fund with Misison Doctors to help with loan repayment for other young doctors called to serve. In the years that passed, Jane married Dr. Richard Talbot and the two have made trips to rural Cameroon where they have increased the options for dental care at St. Martin de Porres Hospital, and bridged the gaps with students from Santa Barbara.
Dr. Jim and Mrs. Terry Hake were honored having completed three years of service at St. Martin de Porres Hospital in rural Cameroon, West Africa. Executive Director, Elise Frederick said that their service was exceptional not only because of the care provided but also for their ability to connect people at home with those in need through their blog: HakesinCameroon.blogspot.com
Dr. Bolton and husband Mr. Ruley recieved this award for their faith-filled service with Mission Doctors. They served together in Ghana, Cameroon, Guatemala and Uganda. Before they were married, Dr. Bolton served for three years in Papua New Guinea. Kate and John also served on Mission Doctors Association Board of Directors. John is also a pilot who has flown many missions taking physicians and supplies to Mexico with Liga International.
The Cavanaghs received this award for their faith-filled service with Mission Doctors. They served three years at St. Theresa’s Hospital in rural Zimbabwe, and also short-term in Cameroon at St. Martin de Porres. The Cavanaghs also serve on the Mission Doctors Association Board of Directors.
Receiving this award for his 10 years of dedicated service as President of Mission Doctors Association, Dr. Malphus led the organization with faith and confidence in the mission of MDA. Dr. Malphus also be served in 2011 at St. Martin de Porres Hospital, Diocese of Bamenda in Cameroon, sharing his professional skills as a pediatrician. Mrs. Mary Lou Malphus has served in the past as president of the Mission Doctors Auxiliary and co-chair of the annual gala benefit for many years.
The Stoughtons served long-term initially serving from 1970-1975 along with their seven children and then for nearly a decade after Dr. Stoughton’s retirement from his medical practice in Shawano, WI at St. Theresa’s Hospital in Zimbabwe.
Dr. Stoughton and other Mission Doctors serving both long and short term have been instrumental in bringing much-needed care to the people served by this rural Catholic hospital. Their work includes the program of education and treatment that has dramatically reduced the transmission of HIV from mother to child. The introduction of antiretroviral drugs has improved and extended the lives of many patients once on the brink of death. With the Stoughtons and their generous donors ongoing commitment, St. Theresa continues to be an oasis of hope.