Burton G. Mandel, M.D. is a primary care physician who worked
for 29 years in the Department of General Medicine at the Lahey
Clinic Medical Center before retiring in 2002. Retirement afforded
him ample time to spend with family and friends, as well as time to
do all the other things he just couldn't fit in while working
full-time. However, it wasn't too long before retirement also
showed him how much he missed the enjoyment gained from practicing
medicine, and also how it defined him as a person.
Volunteerism, in several forms, turned out to be his solution.
Dr. Mandel became more active at the Massachusetts Medical Society
by joining the Committee on Senior Volunteer Physicians and
becoming a delegate for the Middlesex District Medical Society. And
through the Committee on Senior Volunteer Physicians, where he
served as the chairman of the committee for several years, he
became involved with the Free Health Care program. Through the
committee's program, he was able to obtain professional liability
insurance needed for his volunteer work.
Over the years Dr. Mandel has volunteered his professional
services and knowledge at St. Anne's in Shrewsbury, Open Door in
Hudson and Akwaaba, a student run program, in Worcester. He has
found volunteering at the Free Health Care programs rewarding on so
many levels: the opportunity to provide medical care to underserved
patients, the genuine gratitude of the patients, and the chance to
work with so many like-minded volunteers. These have all
contributed to an energizing and exhilarating experience. Through
activities associated with the Society, Dr. Mandel has also had
opportunities to work alongside today's medical students, the
doctors of tomorrow. He is invigorated by their intellectual
curiosity, optimism for the future, compassion and caring, and
their awareness of the needs of the community.
Dr. Mandel recently retired from his post-retirement work at the
Free Health Care programs, but he continues to volunteer at the
Region 4b Medical Reserve Corps. He enjoys the time he has to
travel, read, garden and, most importantly, learn to co-exist with
his computer.
