BIPAI Doctor Seeks to Serve in Africa

Dr. Anthony Garcia-Prats was among the first group of Pediatric AIDS Corps doctors who went to Africa in August 2006. His initial assignment took him to the Lesotho Children's Clinical Center of Excellence in sub-Saharan Africa.

It's no wonder that Dr. Anthony (Tony) Garcia-Prats decided to work with children. The eldest of 10 boys and the son of a respected newborn specialist at Baylor College of Medicine, his early years revolved around youngsters. That he decided to pursue a career in Africa, working for the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative (BIPAI) is another story.

He said he did not have a strong interest in international health until he met with the founder of the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative, Dr. Mark Kline, now also chair of pediatrics at BCM and physician-in-chief at Texas Children's Hospital. That meeting led him to commit to being a part of a new phase of the program, the Pediatric AIDS Corps.

"I immediately felt comfortable—that made it easier to commit," said Tony Garcia-Prats. "But I was a little nervous."

Joining BIPAI

BIPAI was established by Kline in 1996 with the support of the BristolMyers Squibb Foundation to help establish highquality HIV/AIDS care and treatment, health professional training, and clinical research programs in poor countries across the world. The Abbott Fund has also partnered in BIPAI's development, which has established 14 programs to date in Romania, Africa and Mexico.

The Pediatrics AIDS Corps was initiated in 2006 to increase the presence of medical professionals in these centers. Again, the program was made possible by a partnership with the BristolMyers Squibb Foundation. The program deploys young doctors, following completion of a residency in pediatrics, medicine or family and community medicine, to one of BIPAI's network of clinical care centers.

Garcia-Prats, a 2002 BCM graduate, was nearing completion of his pediatrics residency, also with BCM, when he met with Kline to discuss the new BIPAI Pediatric AIDS Corps. The chief resident in pediatrics at BCM at the time, Tony Garcia-Prats weighed many options before joining the PAC program.

Dr. Tony Garcia-Prats examines an infant brought to a BIPAI clinic in Africa.

He was among the first group of Pediatric AIDS Corps doctors who went to Africa in August 2006. His initial assignment took him to the Lesotho Children's Clinical Center of Excellence in subSaharan Africa, where he stayed through February of 2009, stretching a oneyear commitment to three. Recently, he agreed to head a new clinic being built in Tanzania.

Leadership and compassion

"Tony quickly distinguished himself for his dedication, commitment and leadership qualities," said Kline. "He epitomizes the selflessness and compassion we see among young doctors completing our training programs today."

Garcia-Prats said while HIV/AIDS is what draws people into the clinic, the physicians see and treat patients for a variety of common illnesses including pneumonia, diarrhea and acute malnutrition.

"Tony quickly distinguished himself for his dedication, commitment and leadership qualities. He epitomizes the selflessness and compassion we see among young doctors completing our training programs today."
–Dr. Mark Kline

On a more serious visit, the doctors may see patients for malaria or tuberculosis. "These conditions are driving the high under5 mortality rates in Lesotho and Tanzania," said Garcia-Prats.

Delivering care in this environment, Garcia-Prats said, is extremely challenging but rewarding.

Daily impact

"We (the PAC doctors) are making a big impact there every day," said Garcia-Prats. "All pediatricians are valuable, but having one less providing care in these clinics in Africa is a much greater absence then back in the United States."

One of the most positive aspects, Garcia-Prats said, is the appreciation shown from the families of the children he cares for. "They want the same things for their children as we do, to be healthy and grow up and have opportunities," said Tony Garcia-Prats. "By caring for their children, we are helping provide that."

Leading new projects

When Garcia-Prats accepted the challenge of heading a new clinic in Mbeya, Tanzania, he faced new challenges. When he began work in Lesotho, the clinic was already established. The city was larger and more developed.

Dr. Garcia-Prats at the supply clinic in sub-Saharan Africa.

Mbeya is far from Tanzania's largest city of Dar es Salaam and a 12-hour drive to the nearest airport. "It is not a very developed city. It does not really have a grocery store," said Garcia-Prats. "There are very few resources for healthcare.

BIPAI is constructing a new clinic on the grounds of the town's primary referral hospital. It is a public-private partnership that includes the Tanzanian government, the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the federal agency USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development), BCM and Texas Children's Hospital, the Abbott Fund, Jan and the late Dan Duncan and the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. Along with two other Pediatrics AIDS Corps doctors, he will oversee and provide care in the clinic, which serves people currently living in and near Mbeya.

"We are working out of an existing facility while the new clinic is being built," said Garcia-Prats. The new clinic should open sometime in 2010.

Raising a family in Sub-Saharan Africa

Dr. Garcia-Prats with his wife, Heather, and their three daughters

His life now in Africa is vastly different than his life growing up in southwest Houston with nine brothers, a physician father Joseph and a mother, Cathy, whose influence is reflected in the lives of service chosen by their children.

Tony Garcia-Prats and his wife Heather Draper, also a BIPAI member, have already started their family. They adopted twin girls in Lesotho in April 2009. Recently, they welcomed a third daughter born while they were in Houston.

Draper holds a master's degree in biostatistics and works for BIPAI as a statistician. "Working with BIPAI is rewarding for both Tony and me," she said.

"The girls are amazing," she said. "We feel very lucky that they are our daughters."

The family plans to travel and spend time in Lesotho as often as they can. "We want our girls to know their culture," she said.

The simple life

The couple has come to enjoy the "simple life" of living in Tanzania, they said.

"Living in a more remote and quiet place and having to do things on our own, makes life a lot easier and simpler in some ways," said Garcia-Prats. "We come home and we spend time together as a family."

In their home in Tanzania, they have access to the internet but not to TV, by choice, he said.

One of a few physicians in Mbeya, Garcia-Prats keeps pretty busy with work, often putting in extra hours.

"We have normal challenges of first-time parents," said Garcia-Prats. "But there are also challenges that come with the setting. We cannot take our children to a park, or go to a library."

Being far away from their families and their support system is hard, Garcia-Prats said. The families stay in touch through Skype, an Internet-based phone service.

Remaining committed

At 34, Tony Garcia-Prats remains committed to a life of service, much like the rest of his family. His father Dr. Joseph Garcia-Prats is medical director of the Arnold J. Rudolph Memorial Newborn Intensive Care Unit at the Harris County Hospital District's Ben Taub General Hospital and professor of pediatrics and medical ethics and health policy at BCM.

Tony Garcia-Prats said his parents taught him and his brothers the importance of service, purpose and giving to others.

"I never felt pressure to choose a career in medicine," he said. "I love what I do. After seeing and understanding the need and suffering in these countries, I feel a strong connection to this work. It would be hard to draw ourselves away."

In August 2009, he received Chapman University's highest honor—the Albert Schweitzer Award of Excellence—for his achievements in bringing quality medical care to the children of Lesotho and Tanzania.

When he accepted the award, he said he felt proud of his work, but feels like he has many more years of service left to give.

"It is a challenge every day doing what we do," said Garcia-Prats. "Although I feel like my impact—just four years in Africa—is small relative to what others do, we are making a lasting difference in these families."

Joining BIPAI

Leadership and compassion

Daily impact

Leading new projects

Raising a family in Sub-Saharan Africa

The simple life

Remaining committed

Features

News

Spotlight

Briefs

Development/Alumni

Development Briefs

Volume 6, Issue 1, Summer 2010


	BIPAI Doctor Seeks to Serve in Africa by Glenna Picton Dr. Anthony Garcia-Prats was among the first group of Pediatric AIDS Corps doctors who went to Africa in August 2006. His initial assignment took him to the Lesotho Children's Clinical Center of Excellence in sub-Saharan Africa. It's no wonder that Dr. Anthony (Tony) Garcia-Prats decided to work with children. The eldest of 10 boys and the son of a respected newborn specialist at Baylor College of Medicine, his early years revolved around youngsters. That he decided to pursue a career in Africa, working for the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative (BIPAI) is another story. He said he did not have a strong interest in international health until he met with the founder of the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative, Dr. Mark Kline, now also chair of pediatrics at BCM and physician-in-chief at Texas Children's Hospital. That meeting led him to commit to being a part of a new phase of the program, the Pediatric AIDS Corps. "I immediately felt comfortable—that made it easier to commit," said Tony Garcia-Prats. "But I was a little nervous." Joining BIPAI BIPAI was established by Kline in 1996 with the support of the BristolMyers Squibb Foundation to help establish highquality HIV/AIDS care and treatment, health professional training, and clinical research programs in poor countries across the world. The Abbott Fund has also partnered in BIPAI's development, which has established 14 programs to date in Romania, Africa and Mexico. The Pediatrics AIDS Corps was initiated in 2006 to increase the presence of medical professionals in these centers. Again, the program was made possible by a partnership with the BristolMyers Squibb Foundation. The program deploys young doctors, following completion of a residency in pediatrics, medicine or family and community medicine, to one of BIPAI's network of clinical care centers. Garcia-Prats, a 2002 BCM graduate, was nearing completion of his pediatrics residency, also with BCM, when he met with Kline to discuss the new BIPAI Pediatric AIDS Corps. The chief resident in pediatrics at BCM at the time, Tony Garcia-Prats weighed many options before joining the PAC program. Dr. Tony Garcia-Prats examines an infant brought to a BIPAI clinic in Africa. He was among the first group of Pediatric AIDS Corps doctors who went to Africa in August 2006. His initial assignment took him to the Lesotho Children's Clinical Center of Excellence in subSaharan Africa, where he stayed through February of 2009, stretching a oneyear commitment to three. Recently, he agreed to head a new clinic being built in Tanzania. Leadership and compassion "Tony quickly distinguished himself for his dedication, commitment and leadership qualities," said Kline. "He epitomizes the selflessness and compassion we see among young doctors completing our training programs today." Garcia-Prats said while HIV/AIDS is what draws people into the clinic, the physicians see and treat patients for a variety of common illnesses including pneumonia, diarrhea and acute malnutrition. "Tony quickly distinguished himself for his dedication, commitment and leadership qualities. He epitomizes the selflessness and compassion we see among young doctors completing our training programs today." –Dr. Mark Kline On a more serious visit, the doctors may see patients for malaria or tuberculosis. "These conditions are driving the high under5 mortality rates in Lesotho and Tanzania," said Garcia-Prats. Delivering care in this environment, Garcia-Prats said, is extremely challenging but rewarding. Daily impact "We (the PAC doctors) are making a big impact there every day," said Garcia-Prats. "All pediatricians are valuable, but having one less providing care in these clinics in Africa is a much greater absence then back in the United States." One of the most positive aspects, Garcia-Prats said, is the appreciation shown from the families of the children he cares for. "They want the same things for their children as we do, to be healthy and grow up and have opportunities," said Tony Garcia-Prats. "By caring for their children, we are helping provide that." Leading new projects When Garcia-Prats accepted the challenge of heading a new clinic in Mbeya, Tanzania, he faced new challenges. When he began work in Lesotho, the clinic was already established. The city was larger and more developed. Dr. Garcia-Prats at the supply clinic in sub-Saharan Africa. Mbeya is far from Tanzania's largest city of Dar es Salaam and a 12-hour drive to the nearest airport. "It is not a very developed city. It does not really have a grocery store," said Garcia-Prats. "There are very few resources for healthcare. BIPAI is constructing a new clinic on the grounds of the town's primary referral hospital. It is a public-private partnership that includes the Tanzanian government, the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the federal agency USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development), BCM and Texas Children's Hospital, the Abbott Fund, Jan and the late Dan Duncan and the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. Along with two other Pediatrics AIDS Corps doctors, he will oversee and provide care in the clinic, which serves people currently living in and near Mbeya. "We are working out of an existing facility while the new clinic is being built," said Garcia-Prats. The new clinic should open sometime in 2010. Raising a family in Sub-Saharan Africa Dr. Garcia-Prats with his wife, Heather, and their three daughters His life now in Africa is vastly different than his life growing up in southwest Houston with nine brothers, a physician father Joseph and a mother, Cathy, whose influence is reflected in the lives of service chosen by their children. Tony Garcia-Prats and his wife Heather Draper, also a BIPAI member, have already started their family. They adopted twin girls in Lesotho in April 2009. Recently, they welcomed a third daughter born while they were in Houston. Draper holds a master's degree in biostatistics and works for BIPAI as a statistician. "Working with BIPAI is rewarding for both Tony and me," she said. "The girls are amazing," she said. "We feel very lucky that they are our daughters." The family plans to travel and spend time in Lesotho as often as they can. "We want our girls to know their culture," she said. The simple life The couple has come to enjoy the "simple life" of living in Tanzania, they said. "Living in a more remote and quiet place and having to do things on our own, makes life a lot easier and simpler in some ways," said Garcia-Prats. "We come home and we spend time together as a family." In their home in Tanzania, they have access to the internet but not to TV, by choice, he said. One of a few physicians in Mbeya, Garcia-Prats keeps pretty busy with work, often putting in extra hours. "We have normal challenges of first-time parents," said Garcia-Prats. "But there are also challenges that come with the setting. We cannot take our children to a park, or go to a library." Being far away from their families and their support system is hard, Garcia-Prats said. The families stay in touch through Skype, an Internet-based phone service. In May 2010, the family returned to Tanzania with their three girls. Remaining committed At 34, Tony Garcia-Prats remains committed to a life of service, much like the rest of his family. His father Dr. Joseph Garcia-Prats is medical director of the Arnold J. Rudolph Memorial Newborn Intensive Care Unit at the Harris County Hospital District's Ben Taub General Hospital and professor of pediatrics and medical ethics and health policy at BCM. Tony Garcia-Prats said his parents taught him and his brothers the importance of service, purpose and giving to others. "I never felt pressure to choose a career in medicine," he said. "I love what I do. After seeing and understanding the need and suffering in these countries, I feel a strong connection to this work. It would be hard to draw ourselves away." In August 2009, he received Chapman University's highest honor—the Albert Schweitzer Award of Excellence—for his achievements in bringing quality medical care to the children of Lesotho and Tanzania. When he accepted the award, he said he felt proud of his work, but feels like he has many more years of service left to give. "It is a challenge every day doing what we do," said Garcia-Prats. "Although I feel like my impact—just four years in Africa—is small relative to what others do, we are making a lasting difference in these families."		Search all issues: Features The Future of Health Care Starts at Med High Emergency Medicine: The Art of Juggling A Quarter Century of Invention at Baylor College of Medicine "Passport" Gives Childhood Cancer Survivors Entry into Adult Healthcare Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center Educates Through Entertainment Getting to the Roots of Cancer News Dr. Paul Klotman: BCM's New Top Man Dan Duncan Leaves Solid Foundation for BCM's Research Future DeBakey Library & Museum Showcases Innovations of Pioneering Heart Surgeon Spotlight 1,000 Chances for New Life BIPAI Doctor Seeks to Serve in Africa Space Medicine Takes Medical Education Across New Frontiers Quest for a Gene Opens New Door in Personalized Medicine Briefs Out of This World Science Experiment Generates International Interest Out of Africa Predicting the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease Pool to Receive Academic Clinical Professionalism Award The Pea Aphid and the Wasp Genome Development/Alumni Dr. Wheeler Donates Royalties Believe in BCM Campaign Engages Campus Development Briefs National Osteoporosis Foundation Honors Lawrences DeBakey Heart Center of BCM Benefits from Partnership Event Pink Ribbon House Project Celebrates Success Awards and Honor Wall Highlight Alumni Reunion 2010 The Road Ahead Promises Continued Success

	Volume 6, Issue 1, Summer 2010



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