Medical Society President Returns From Afghanistan

(July 9, 2010) , Lt. Colonel Jerry Svoboda returned to the U.S. July 9 following a recent deployment to Afghanistan. Dr. Svoboda, a board-certified vascular surgeon in practice with Unity Vascular Surgery, was elected president last May in absentia.

Dr. Svoboda spent slightly more than three months stationed at FOB Salerno in Khost Province, Eastern Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border. There he served with both the 344th and the 452nd CSH, providing care for ill and injured U.S. troops and also Afghan army, police, and Khost provincial forces. Contractors and some injured enemy and civilians were also brought to the base for medical care.

“Serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps is an extremely rewarding personal and professional experience.  I never imagined that it was something I would do one day,” said Dr. Svoboda. “My dad is an 86-year-old WWII veteran and my army service has been a great connection for the two of us.”  His dad is now flying a flag at home that flew over Salerno Hospital.

Dr. Svoboda said he was also inspired to serve by one of his teachers, Narayan Deshmukh, M.D., who, although born and raised in India, was a reservist for over 20 years. Dr. Svoboda joined the Army Reserve Medical Corps in August 2006 and was deployed to Iraq about one year later. Living in the military is truly living in a different culture, but Dr. Svoboda said his experience has been positive. He joined the Army Reserve through a program called "90 Days Boots on the Ground," which puts doctors in field hospitals for three month rotations.

“It is a challenge personally, physically, professionally, and emotionally that is very satisfying--really a different way of life.  In the army, I have met many wonderful doctors, male and female, who have joined later in their careers, as I have,” he said. Dr. Svoboda said he is extremely thankful to have the support of family and colleagues.  "My wife, Adelaide, fares pretty well while I'm away, so it is something that works for us. I am grateful, also, to my hard-working partners at Unity Vascular Surgery and their wives and the MCMS for ‘holding down the fort’ in my absence. It is great to be back in Rochester.”

Message From Jerry Svoboda, MD, MCMS President
(As Read During the 189th Annual Meeting, May 19, 2010)

It gives me great pleasure to be honored with serving as your president in this coming year.  Please forgive my absence from this meeting, but the support and experience of your society's other officers and director make my first 6 weeks as president possible in absentia while I finish my army duties.  Regardless of your personal politics and feelings about the war's purpose and direction, there are patients here, both US and Afghani, who benefit from medical services provided by coalition forces and paid for by your tax dollars.  It is my honor to be part of this effort that is hopefully winning hearts and minds in Afghanistan.  I look forward to my return to Rochester, my wife, Adelaide, and this office in July to do my able best as your president.  My special thanks go to Nancy Adams and Doctors Stephanie Siegrist, Mark Adams, and James Szalados for helping to share my duties until then.