Marc Gotbaum: I have had the privilege of being a disaster response clinician for nearly 30 years. Since that terrible time of the San Ysidro massacre, where many of my colleagues were newly introduced into the Mitchell Model and trained in response, locally by Dr Mantell, I have been fascinated with what can be done to understand the human response to trauma and help script a potentially healing narrative from the chaos.
Like many of my colleagues in the Trauma and Disaster response field, I am drawn by the intense and often humanely personal contact with survivors as they make new meaning or reorder their new-normal, post-disaster. I have had unique opportunities to meet people all over the County, State, Country and globe at a crisis point; remembering the Chinese character for "crisis" is the combination of danger and opportunity.
I have gained from the experience and brilliance of many experts in the field as well as having grown into my own over the years. I have worked with combat veterans, first responders, sexual assault survivors, as well as the masses affected by hurricanes, floods, tsunamis, disease, famine and earthquakes.
I am committed to the ideal that the best revenge is a good and full life...as I work together with those touched by the man-made wages of war and oppression. I have had the opportunity to serve a year with Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Central Asia, year recently and have returned with even greater aspiration to help where and when I can.
As a clinician, I seek to serve my fellow wo/man by positive action. I hope that being part of this committee, I can share my passions, experiences, and in doing so inspire others to take up the torch.
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