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A cuban born in the U.S. by chance, Dr. Pedro Jose Greer, Jr. had a vision that changed his life and the lives of thousands of Miami's residents. He once had aspirations of "making a difference" in some impoverished corner of the world like North Africa or Central America where doctors were desperately needed. But in 1984, while an intern at Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital, an encounter with a patient suffering from tuberculosis would change the course of his life. The man had been found on the streets of Miami and brought to the hospital by Fire Rescue. His only identification was the place where he lay dying - bed number nine.
There was little Dr. Greer could do to medically help the homeless man. But he knew there was plenty he could do to help him through his last moments in life. Only four years earlier, Dr. Greer's younger sister had died in a car accident. She overturned her car on an unfamiliar stretch of highway as she drove home from college for Thanksgiving. She was killed instantly; and since that day, Dr. Greer made a commitment never to let anyone die or suffer alone. So Dr. Greer spent four days looking for the man's family. His search was unsuccessful but would turn out to be providential when it led him to Camillus House, a shelter for the homeless.
Appalled that America was not only the home of the free but also of the homeless and that people in his backyard were too poor or ignorant to seek medical treatment, Greer's vision of how he could improve the lives of people in this community gelled. He knew a clinic to treat the poor and homeless populations of Miami was needed. He quickly opened up Camillus Health Concern (CHC), as it is now known, and began persuading the poor and homeless to come in for treatment.
In the beginning Dr. Greer only had a broad vision to "save the world." It was a mission driven by passion, and did not have any specific direction until he met the homeless man in 1984, and decided to start his free clinic. "Young and stupid" as Dr. Greer describes himself then, he ignored his own personal safety as he scoured the mudflats under the bridges and highways to tell alcoholics, drug addicts, and other down-and-outers living there in crates and boxes about his free clinic. The response to Greer's efforts was largely positive. He believes this is due in part to his philosophy of "persistence with a smile," and he also admits that at 6 feet 3 inches and more than 250 pounds, others find it hard to say no to him.
For the first four years he ran the clinic, Greer had no financial support for his vision. The sign-up office at Camillus House became an exam room, and he turned the cafeteria into a waiting room. He scavenged for furnishings, supplies and medicines and relied on a completely volunteer staff. In order for CHC to thrive and grow, however, some financial support was necessary. Therefore, Greer became a quick study in applying for grants. As for gaining support from others in the medical community, Greer says that was easy, "after all," he says "that's what [doctors] do - help people." Doctors just needed someone to make them aware of the need and give them an opportunity to make a difference. More are always needed, but because of Greer's efforts, almost 100 physicians are serving the homeless and indigent populations in Little Havana and South Miami Beach.
Dr. Greer has also used his appointment as the first assistant dean of homeless education at the University of Miami School of Medicine to help expand his vision for CHC. CHC's coordinated networks of clinics are staffed in part by his medical students. Dr. Greer emphasizes that his vision for CHC is not about him. It is a "mission driven by passion," and his ultimate goal is to make the need for CHC obsolete. Nevertheless, Dr. Greer's impact on the lives of the poor in South Miami has been great. CHC is now a multi-story center named for his deceased sister and treats more than 10,000 indigent men, women, and children each year. Through Dr. Greer's leadership and vision, he has proven that one person can inspire and create change in his community.
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