Voices from the Homeless Clinic

Jun 13th, 2007 by Accidental Thinker

Last night, my mom alerted me to this online video (aptly titled Voices from the Homeless Clinic) on our local newspaper’s website, featuring testimonials from patients at Orlando’s Health Care Center for the Homeless. I was understandably tickled to see my dad featured in a couple of the scenesâ€”he’s the doc in the white lab coat.

But I, ever the insatiable snoop, was not satisfied with that little snippet. I wanted to know more, so I looked up the homeless clinic’s website and lo and behold, I find that my dad is featured as the Volunteer Physician of the Year!

Just for the sake of posterity, I decided to record here the entire text of the article. Way to go, Daddy! I’m so proud!

HCCH Volunteer Physician of the Year:
Dr. Jaime Torner, MD

Dr. Torner was born in San Sebastian, Spain and received his Medical Degree from the University of Madrid in 1965. In 1974, he began his practice of gastroenterology in Port Charlotte, Florida. In 2004, after 30+ years of practice, raising three children and blessed with four grandchildren, Dr. Torner and his wife of 40 years, Ginger, retired to Lake Mary.

After a few months of retirement, Dr. Torner was looking for a volunteer opportunity to use his talents and training to help those in need. He began his search on the Internet and it was our good fortune that he happened across this very website (www.hcch.org). He contacted us and began to volunteer two days a week.

Soon his two days stretched to 4 then 5 for one week then two weeks and more. This winter, our Medical Director took an extended vacation leaving us with a shortage of providers with an already overcrowded schedule. This was also the time we were moving into the new Orange Blossom Family Health Center building. Dr. Torner didnâ€™t miss a beat and cheerfully consented to come in five days a week for over one month.

â€œCharity begins at home.â€ Says Dr. Torner. While his friends and colleagues go on mission trips to third world countries once or twice a year, Dr. Torner practices his passion daily. â€œWhy go around the world when there is work to be done right in your own backyard?â€

HCCH is inspired by Dr. Tornerâ€™s commitment to his craft and his community. We are grateful for his volunteerism and moved by his ethics and principles.

Posted in Family |

7 Responses to “Voices from the Homeless Clinic”

on 13 Jun 2007 at 1:38 pm1Paul N.

Way to go, Dad!!! Anybody who helps the homeless is a hero. (And you’re Spanish, too!)
on 13 Jun 2007 at 2:17 pm2Marisa

I always knew that he was Super Dad… Maybe I’ll get him a cape and som leggings for Father’s Day… (Don’t even think about stealing my idea)
on 14 Jun 2007 at 11:30 am3Jolynn

That is something to be proud of. What a great dad you have!
on 14 Jun 2007 at 9:16 pm4tanlucypez

You are right to be proud! I sure would be.
on 16 Jun 2007 at 7:28 am5Mike

^5 to Dr. Torner !!!!! :0)
on 16 Jun 2007 at 12:24 pm6mindy

That is awesome! You have reason to be very proud!
on 27 Oct 2008 at 2:46 pm7lilibeth

Hello,

I read you blog about your dad. Congratualations for having an amazing father.
I am a pre-med student at the University of Central Florida and I am the president of the Pre-Professional Medical Societ at UCF.
We are planning to do a mission trip to Peru, and I wold like to talk to you dad more. If possible lease send me his email address to lili@ppmedsociety.com

Thank you
Lilibeth Lanza