March 20 , 2006

 NORMAN – Spending many hard years completing a medical degree, traveling thousands of miles away from home to third-world and war-torn countries, and then only making 25 cents an hour is not what most doctors would expect upon graduation. But some extraordinary people choose this path, envisioning how they can assist others no matter what the cost, because although the monetary value may not be great, the lasting rewards are.

Richard Heinzl, founder of Doctors Without Borders, Canada, will discuss how anyone can make a difference in the world in a free, public presentation titled “The Doctors Without Borders Story.” He talks about how similar the world’s people are and how the introduction of something as simple as a Frisbee can impact a group of kids in another country.

The discussion is part of a Presidential Dream Course offered through Kathleen Crowther-Heyck, assistant professor in the History of Science Department in the University of Oklahoma College of Arts and Sciences. The presentation will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 23, in the Scholars Room, Oklahoma Memorial Union, 900 Asp Ave.

In 1988, Heinzl founded Doctors Without Borders, Canada, and in 1990, became the organization's first field volunteer. Since its inception, hundreds of other Canadian volunteers have followed the example of Heinzl, bringing their healing skills to the world's most vulnerable people in over 40 countries, including Afghanistan, Angola, Bosnia, Cambodia, Colombia, Liberia, Rwanda, Sri Lanka and Sudan. These field operations respond to public health emergencies caused by armed conflict, epidemics, food insecurity and environmental crises.

Over the years, Heinzl has received numerous awards and honors, including being named to Report on Business magazine's prestigious “Top 40 Under 40” list. He is the former CEO of Toronto-based CardioView Inc., an information technology company in the field of cardiology, and is the vice president of Vivid Health Solutions, which creates motion picture and new media solutions for the health sciences.

Heinzl believes in the importance of a non-conventional approach to problem solving, embracing change and transformation, and the global impact and importance of growing technological advancements. When working in Cambodia over a decade ago, Heinzl noticed there was not a single working telephone, but today, in that same town, kids walk around with cell phones and can surf the Internet at a local café.

The presentation is sponsored by OU’s Office of the President as part of the Presidential Dream Courses established in 2004 by President David L. Boren, which allows instructors to bring renowned speakers to campus in an effort to enrich the academic environment for students and the general public.

Five of the six Presidential Dream Courses for the 2005-2006 academic year were awarded to departments in the College of Arts and Sciences. The departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Communication, English, History of Science and Religious Studies all are recipients for this year’s special funding.