Dr. Patrick Chege, age 63 years, died from COVID this past week. He was one of the first Family Medicine trained physicians in Kenya, finishing in 2008. He founded the Family Kenya Association of Family Physicians (KAFP) and began serving as the Head of the Family Medicine Department at Moi University, in Eldoret Kenya in 2012.

I did not know him well, but as the director of the Global Health Family Medicine Pathway at the University of Minnesota I worked with Dr. Bruce Dahlman and tried to bring him to the US in 2013 to attend the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Meeting as an International Scholar. Hearing of his death, I looked back at his CV, letters of recommendation and our correspondence. I am reminded of his courage and persistence. He wrote: "The parents of Family Medicine in Kenya, who also taught us and continue to work with us in the program, were from the United States of America."

Dr. Daria Szkwarko, Director of Global Health in Family Medicine at Brown, successfully brought him to the US as an International Scholar in 2019. I finally had the chance to meet him at that time. Daria reflects: I will remember him as an incredible FM clinician and educator who epitomized life-long learning - in fact, he recently went back to school and finished his PhD as he had planned to revamp the entire medical school curriculum. He was also a phenomenal mentor who taught me that patience, trust, and a sense of humor are crucial pillars to any collaboration.

What a loss! Reportedly, Dr. Chege became very sick with COVID over the past two weeks, and despite absolutely phenomenal care by his close colleagues, his ARDS was too severe. News of his death reminds me of my privilege as a family physician in the US. First, the privilege of already having had my COVID vaccinations and having adequate PPE when I work. While the US has had its struggles with COVID, we are a wealthy country on the way to immunizing everyone who wants it. Other countries are dependent on the WHO COVAX effort. Kenya with a population of 52 million. At their current rate of vaccination, they will have 10% of their population vaccinated in another year and 1/2.

The Palestinian territories struggle as well. With a population of 5 million, at their current vaccination rate, they will have 10% of their population vaccinated in 1/2 year.

Secondly, I am reminded of the profound privilege of working with others around the world to grow family medicine--that specialty that focuses on hearing what the patient has to say, understanding their health in the context of the family and their community. While I work/volunteer to share my privilege, my bounty, I am always humbled by how much I personally benefit.

KENYA Association of Family Physicians Memorial for Dr. Chege--this is inspirational!