We have many exceptional physicians within the King's Daughters' Health family. They provide great medical care to local families and often give of their time and resources to help others.
Dr. Magdy Khalil reflects on mission trips to Kenya and Egypt
Dr. Magdy Khalil has a missionary's heart, and he has put his heart into action on more than one occasion. In 2011, Dr. Khalil spent eight weeks at Tenwek Medical Center in Kenya and another week in his native country of Egypt.
"Gospel music we sing in churches in the United States was being played in operating rooms during surgery," Khalil, a Board Certified Anesthesiologist, said of his trip to Tenwek. "Every surgeon prayed with every patient and for every patient before they operated. It was like heaven on earth. You sensed God working in that place with his children - those doing the operating and those being operated on."
Dr. Khalil heard about Tenwek from a conference speaker who was a full-time missionary at the hospital. He saw the presenter during a conference in Louisville in 2010.
"I admired him and wanted to work where he worked and follow his heart," Khalil said.
Tenwek was started over 70 years ago by a missionary doctor from Indiana. At the time, the doctor was the only one at Tenwek. Now, the facility houses over 300 beds. It's the largest Evangelical Hospital in Africa and provides all types of surgeries - including open heart surgery. Dr. Khalil provided anesthesia services during most of this time there. He helped with procedures on a wide range of patients, including infants as young as one week old.
While Khalil ventured to Tenwek by himself, he worked through World Medical Missions - known as Samaritan's Purse - to finalize his plans and complete the necessary paperwork. Dr. Khalil plans to return to Tenwek for four weeks in 2012. He hopes his son, Mina, 26, will go with him. Mina's goal will be to play and teach music to children and adults at the medical center.
Part of a medical team in Egypt
During his trip to Egypt this past October, Dr. Khalil helped provide general medical care at a clinic. He and members of a medical team took care of children and adults. They provided medicine and education.
"It's about serving God and God's command to us," Dr. Khalil said. "To share what we have. To use our resources, education, or expertise."
Dr. Khalil has been with KDH for five-and-a-half years and said neither of his trips would have been possible without the support of the hospital's leadership. The trip to Egypt was coordinated through Southeast Christian Church in Louisville.
"For me to take that much time away, it took the support of the hospital and my co-workers," Khalil said. "They are here to serve the community and to serve God. I think that is true. That's a reason for me to stay here."
Dr. Khalil, 58, moved to the United States at age 26. He believes it was part of God's plan to help him be better prepared to serve others. He began going on mission trips three years ago and has been to Ethiopia twice during that time.