A Dedicated Physician
By Caryl
Melancon
“I am blessed being able to
care for people, I get as much out of it as they do”, says Dr. Dean
Ersig referring to his volunteer service at CARES Senior Health
Clinic in New Port Richey. The CARES Senior Health Clinic is a
unique specialized program that provides low income and uninsured
seniors 55 years and older with limited medical care such as general
physical exams, limited primary treatment, monitoring of chronic
illnesses, counseling, and referrals. Some donated medications, lab
services and other specialty services, also, are offered.
Dr. Ersig, who practiced
Family Medicine in Toledo, Ohio, came to Florida eleven years ago.
Another CARES volunteer told him about the senior health clinic and
brought him over for a visit. He now volunteers at the clinic
every Tuesday. He has a limited license to practice medicine in
Florida and has sovereign immunity through the state as do all the
volunteer physicians and nurses at the clinic.
“I appreciate the United
States and the freedom I had to become what I became. I want to pay
back the country”, Dr. Ersig asserts. “These people, the patients
need someone” he adds.
Dr Ersig not only helps
people in Florida, he, also, travels to different Caribbean
countries twice a year to donate his services. “When I see these
foreign countries with a lack of support for the people, I’m
grateful for the United States”, he says. He has learned a little
Spanish and enjoys helping his patients understand their conditions
and the importance of their medication. He, also, has adopted an
orphaned girl in Haiti and is helping her get the education she so
badly wants.
Watching Dr. Ersig speak
with a patient at the clinic, his kindness, caring and concern for
people are readily apparent. CARES is fortunate to have this
dedicated physician as one of its volunteers.
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