Meet Pat Mason, M.D., Ph.D, Medical Director of The Golden Phoenix Foundation
We first met Dr. Mason in 2000 when we brought our daughter Lily to the International Adoption Center at INOVA Fairfax Hospital for an evaluation. Dr. Mason founded the clinic, and serves as its director. We were so impressed with Dr. Mason, both in his clinical approach and his commitment to making a difference for orphaned and abandoned children.
He received both his M.D. and Ph.D. from the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, VA. He then went on to complete his Pediatric Residency and fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology at Emory University in Atlanta. He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Section on Adoption and Foster Care. Dr Mason also has faculty appointments at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and as a Voluntary Faculty at the National Institute of Health.
As an endocrinologist, Dr. Mason is very interested in issues related to early life events and how they relate to growth, puberty and the body's stress response in internationally adopted children. Dr. Mason is conducting several research projects to better understand these effects. His ongoing research project is examining the effects of early life experiences in international orphanages on the child's stress response and its impact on growth and puberty. Dr. Mason has spoken throughout the country on these topics.
Dr Mason is also committed to caring to children who are not adopted. He has led medical mission trips throughout the world caring for children in orphanages. Trips have included care for children in Honduras, Romania and Russia. Dr. Mason is the Board President of HOMBRE an organization committed to providing care in Honduras as well as training medical students and residents in the care of children around the world.
The Golden Phoenix Foundation is thrilled to be working alongside Dr. Mason in many of these efforts.
Dr. Pat Mason
The Golden Phoenix Medical Director
The Golden Phoenix Foundation 1390 Chain Bridge Road, # 15 McLean, VA 22101 email: contact@goldenphoenixfoundation.org
34 Seconds in Haiti
On January 12, Haiti suffered from a devastating 7.3 magnitude earthquake. In the 34 seconds that the quake lasted it is estimated that over 300,000 people died. Many more suffered serious injuries. The 34 seconds left most of the population without homes, schools and the basic essentials of life. Having never been in a warzone, my drives through Port-au-Prince reminded of what I have seen of war footage. Entire areas were completely wiped out. The cinderblock buildings frequently collapsed downward in a “pancaking” action. In the 34 seconds that the ground shook few were able to escape.
Upon my arrival, I was working at St Damien Children’s hospital, the only free children’s hospital in Haiti. The scene at the hospital when we first arrived looked like something out of MASH with tents everywhere. Within 1 hour of my arrival I was in a pediatric clinic seeing children. The stories of the people were just heartbreaking. Many of the children we were seeing had undergone amputations. In addition, there were a large number of children with malaria, infections and malnutrition. I saw a 6 pound 1 year old, numerous untreated heart defects and other abnormalities that within US would have been easily repaired soon after birth, but were left untreated in a country that was on the brink of disaster even before the quake.
While we were there we attended funerals and mass for many of the dead. On our last night they had brought in 2 body bags. It seems that in 34 seconds, an entire school fell, killing over 220 children. The bag contained parts of what was thought to be 4-5 children. The children were able to receive a very beautiful service and a burial in what is becoming a very overcrowded cemetery. On our second to last night in Haiti, we had a 4.7 magnitude aftershock at 1:40 am. I have to say that it was pretty scary. Unfortunately following the aftershock, all of the mothers grabbed their children and fled the hospital to the surrounding courtyard. When we returned to the hospital we found over 140 children and their families lying in the grass refusing to return inside due to fear of the building falling on them again. So hospital rounds were conducted right on the grounds.
I witnessed a bittersweet baptism for a baby that had been born the night before. The mother presented in active labor but refused to push. She kept screaming to her unborn baby “don’t come out, its hell out here”. After working with her for over 12 hours, a group of Italian midwives convinced her to deliver her baby. A beautiful little boy was born in an uncertain world surrounded by tears from everyone involved.
I am always amazed that within a world of hopelessness and despair children are children. During our courtyard rounds we found 4 little boys actively involved in a very intense card game. I will never forget the smiles of each of the children after receiving a sticker following my exam. It’s their faces that I would see as I crawled each night into my mosquito netting to fall asleep, often with tears in my eyes. It’s these same faces that I will continue to see in my dreams, probably for a long time to come...
Dr. Pat Mason, March 1, 2010
Dr. Mason has been on the go....
A medical mission to Haiti following the devastating earthquake; a trip to Guatemala to work on nutritional needs of abandoned children; and a return trip to Honduras this past June to continue his work in orphanages there, and on the GPF Honduras Water Project. In between all of those comings and goings, he and Christine tied the knot - congrats to you on your recent nuptials!