Russians see ‘country’ style of living
Twelve physicians from Oak Ridge's sister city of Obninsk, Russia, got the opportunity to see health care American style during their April 19-27 visit to Oak Ridge
The visitors were physician Gennady Slepov, deputy director of the Obninsk. Medical Center; physician Anatoly Ivanov, hygienist and epidemiologist for Obninsk, and his wife, 'Valentina Ivanova; internist-therapist Tamara Navolokina; physician Boris Golovchak, head of the deportment of traumatology; otolaryngologist Svetlana Lazareva; ophthalmologists Tatyana Novikova and Ludmila V. Mazharova; psychiatrist Naum Khait; pharmacist Vitaly Kalinin; internist-therapist Tatyana Ardabatskaya; physician Alexander Zarechnev, director of the IPPE Medical Facility; and pediatrician Valentina Kalyagina.
The group toured the facilities at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge after MMC President George Mathews explained the history of the hospital.
The visitors also had an opportunity to see individual practices in their respective fields. Hosting their counterparts from Obninsk were David Heald and David Compton, both physicians in family practice; pediatrician Tom Clary; hospital-based MMG Group internist Tony Garton; psychiatrists Glen Peterson, Renu Bhateja, Bill Hogan and Ira Lew; otolaryngologist John Jernigan; ophthalmologist Randy Reid; orthopedic surgeons Randy Bobbins and Paul Spray, and pharmacists Clay Good with the MMC pharmacy and Jim McMahon of Jackson Square Pharmacy.
The visitors were introduced to the medical section and medical staff at their regularly scheduled meetings.
One highlight of their visit was a tour of the hospital's new operating rooms, where the high-tech environment made a big impression on the group.
The visitors also expressed amazement at the widespread use here of disposable medical supplies, a practice almost unheard of in their facilities.
Radiologist Barry Brown, a resident of Oak Ridge who has a practice in Crossville, arranged for the visitors to see the facilities at the Cumberland Medical Center in Crossville. Brown visited Obninsk last June with his son on the youth soccer exchange. The Russian physicians said they were very impressed that a town of 3,000 could have such a high-quality medical facility, since health care in medical facilities in small Russian towns can often be more dangerous than the disease being treated.
The Oak Ridge Sister Cities Support Organization and several local businesses and families supported the group's Oak Ridge experience. Tom Mishu of the Subway restaurant off Oak Ridge Turnpike and Bob Parks of Fazoli's restaurant both provided lunches.
Georgia and Ralph Hackworth of the Dutch Valley area near Clinton and Elizabeth Richardson, assisted by Jack and Dora Moneyhun, hosted the group in their homes for dinner. Wanda and Pete Craven and my wife, Jerry, and I were hosts for the group for dinner at the New China Palace and the Cancun restaurant.
Ed and Marese Nephew, Bob and Carolyn Henderson, Carolee Peacock and my wife and I also hosted small groups for dinner.
Galina Bekov was lead interpreter, and she was assisted by volunteers Nina Petrov, George and Veronica Bekov, and Julia and Michael Sokolov. Carolina Ravina provided translation services.
Tours of the Oak Ridge area and trips to the Smoky Mountains, Pigeon Forge and Chattanooga to see the Aquarium, IMAX theater and the Chattanooga Choo Choo rounded out the week.
The medical staff at Methodist Medical Center were hosts at a farewell banquet for the visitors at the Sagebrush Steakhouse tic Saloon.
Our Russian colleagues left with new information about the practice of medicine in their areas and a better idea of how health care is provided in the United States. They said they were impressed by the friendliness of their many hosts Tithe natural beauty of Oak Ridge and East Tennessee.
This program continues exchanges between the Obninsk and Oak Ridge medical communities under the auspices of the Oak Ridge Sister Cities Support Organization.
Oak Ridgers interested in participating in future Sister City activities can call Wanda Craven, SCSO president, at 483-1237 for information about membership. The SCSO meets at 6:45 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month in the meeting room at the Oak Ridge Public Library.
Its purpose is to foster exchange and other activities between Oak Ridge's two sister cites, Obninsk and Naka Machi, Japan, and to support other international exchanges in Oak Ridge.
Ken Luckmann, gastroenterologist on the medical staff of Methodist Medical Center, coordinated activities for the visitors from Obninsk, Russia., while they were here.
