HUMS NEWS
More than 200 new patients received care over a ten-week period at a new free seasonal clinic initiated by Charlotte HUMS chapter members in Aegina, Greece.
With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta and Metropolitan Ephraim of Aegina, together with the cooperation of
First HUMS Orthopaedic Free Clinic
St. Dionysios Hospital and the Holy Monastery of St. Nektarios in Aegina, Dn. Dr. Paul Tsahakis and his wife Lea, RN, were able to establish what we hope will be both an annual clinic and a model for HUMS chapters and volunteers.
As part of the ongloing financial crisis gripping Greece, access to affordable medical care has become an overwhelming obstacle.
Pastoral Healthcare Conference
Holy Unmercenaries Medical Society was recognized at the Patriarchal Conference of the Network of Pastoral Healthcare at their meeting held in October 2017 in Rhodes, Greece.
These conferences are the brainchild of Father Stavros Kofinas (HUMS first annual retreat leader, May 2017) and occur every three years. Fr. Stavros proudly introduced our Holy Unmercenaries Society and challenged all metropolises across the globe to work with their health-care professionals to establish regional chapters. The goal is for metropolis-based chapters to connect to the Patriarchal network, which will serve as a forum for sharing ideas, experiences and support.
Hospital Waiting Room
St. Dionysius Hospital
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Over One Hundred Homeless Women And Children Touched By Orthodoxy
Inspired by the lives of the Holy Unmercenary Saints, the Holy Unmercenaries Medical Society (HUMS) recently started a new Medical/Dental Clinic in the inner city of Charlotte, North Carolina. On Saturday January 26, 2019, eight Orthodox healthcare providers of the Metropolis of Atlanta joined His Grace, Bishop Sevastianos of Zelon, as he led them in a Blessing of the Waters to inaugurate the opening of this Clinic.. Over one hundred homeless women, children, Orthodox faithful as well non-Orthodox staff witnessed and shared in this beautiful and uplifting service. This clinic is located within Shelter Health Services and is part of the Salvation Army?s Center of Hope, which is one of the largest shelters on the East Coast. The Shelter and Clinic provide housing and medical care for over 400 homeless women and children. This HUMS Specialty Clinic offers a wide range of healthcare services including General and Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Gastroenterology, Orthopaedics and Arthritis care, pharmacologic assistance, as well as Physical Therapy. The HUMS also offers a free weekly Orthopedic Clinic there.
Additionally, the HUMS will soon begin a Vocational Rehabilitation jobs program for appropriate Clinic patients. Many of these patients find it difficult to gain employment for various reasons. Through this program, these homeless women will be offered training as well as a job. As transportation is always problematic in this patient population, transportation will be provided. It is hoped that this program will allow at least upwards of 100 patients per year to permanently leave homelessness.
The HUMS was inaugurated by His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta, at the Diakonia Retreat Center (DRC) in Salem SC, in January, 2017. The Society is comprised of Greek Orthodox healthcare providers who reside in the Holy Metropolis of Atlanta. The foundation of the HUMS are its four pillars that include; worship, fellowship and education, acts of service, and philanthropy. These pillars are the guiding principles used for the spiritual formation of its membership in order to fulfill its mission?to freely offer the healing ministry of Jesus Christ in our contemporary world.
The HUMS have established a quarterly newsletter as well as a yearly retreat at the DRC. Its first retreat leader was Fr., Dr. Stavros Kofinas of the Pastoral Network of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, who led the attendees in a deeply reflective study of ?loneliness? and ?hope? in the care of the patient in May, 2017. Shortly thereafter, the HUMS was accepted into the Pastoral Network of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The second retreat was led by Dr. Gayle Woloschak in May, 2018, and the theme was ?The Mystery of Faith, Technology, and the Healing Arts. Both events were well attended and all thoroughly enjoyed the three day weekend of fellowship, daily worship, poignant discussions, as well as the awe inspiring beauty of the DRC. The third annual retreat will be held during May 15-17, 2019 with Dn., Dr. Stephen Muse as retreat leader, who will lead the membership with the timely theme of ?Healing the Healer.? These retreats are open to any Orthodox Christian provider who would like to attend (insert link). Of note, His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios always attends the yearly retreats and leads the membership in prayer, spiritual reflections, as well as participating in the retreat discussions.
With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexios and Metropolitan Ephraim of Aegina, together with the cooperation of St. Dionysios Hospital and the Holy Monastery founded by St. Nektarios in Aegina, Greece, the HUMS have also established a seasonal (twice/year) free Orthopaedic Clinic at St. Dionysios Hospital in Aegina. This Clinic has been very well received by the inhabitants of the island and typically has a long waiting list reflective of the need of the people in Greece, which has been deeply affected by the ongoing financial crisis. This hospital is operated under the direction of His Eminence, Metropolitan Ephraim of Aegina.
HUMS members have also traveled to Kenya and the Dominican Republic to offer specialty medical training and care in the areas of Anesthesiology, Gastroenterology and Orthopaedic Spine Surgery. Additionally, health fairs are periodically offered in local Greek Orthodox Churches in the Metropolis of Atlanta.
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At bottom, insert Facebook and Web link as well as link for Metropolis of Atlanta website.
Dr. Dennis Kokenes and his wife Kabee, certified life coach, represented the Metropolis of Atlanta and our HUMS chapter at the conference. We look forward to hearing more details from Dennis and Kabee about this wonderful exchange of ideas at our next meeting.
Dr. Dennis Kokenes and Fr. Stavros Kofinos
HUMS Partners with Ark of the World -- Kivotos Tou Kosmou
HUMS is excited to announce the adoption of The Ark of the World as a recipient of HUMS? international efforts. The Ark of the World, a remarkable orphanage and family center, was founded in 1998 as safe haven for the abandoned children of Greece in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods of Athens by a then 26-year-old priest, Fr. Antonios.
Today it has two shelters for abandoned and orphaned children; a Day Center that serves 400 children with a daily meal, tutoring, recreational sports and the foundational skills to prepare them for continuing education; a summer camp; food distribution; health care; dental care; and social services.
Ark also provides 100 apartments to shelter mothers and children. Although Ark?s main focus is the well-being of abandoned children, the emphasis is on keeping families together
if at all possible, not institutionalizing children. Homeless, low-income and no-income mothers are supported financially on a monthly basis (rent, water, electricity bills, etc.) The mothers are supported with the opportunity to learn new skills and find a job so they can be independent and responsible for their children.
Please plan to visit Kivotos when you visit Greece. If you would like to volunteer or contribute, please visit the Ark of the World website or contact Dn. Paul Tsahakis at ptsahakis@gmail.com
