Mid-state Doctor Featured in Documentary
December 15, 2009
WKRN

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- A mid-state doctor is the subject of a new documentary that followed physicians working for the non-profit group, Doctors Without Borders.

Dr. Thomas Krueger is a general surgeon at Southern Hills Medical Center and was one of four physicians profiled in the movie, "Living in Emergency".

A night out at the movies typically involves losing yourself in a fantasy with actors none of us has ever met.
But Monday night, more than 100 people filled the theater in Green Hills to watch a friend, colleague and doctor take on his most challenging role yet, as a doctor in very real situations across the world.

CEO of Southern Hills Medical Center, Thomas Ozburn says, "We're just so proud of him. It's just remarkable. It's a movie that I want all my employees to see, I want other physicians to see. I want people to see what goes on in the world and that there are people out there willing to give their time, their energy."

Dr. Krueger spent two years treating patients in Liberia, Nigeria, Darfur, Sudan and Sri Lanka.

Dr. George Holmes, chairman of the board at Southern Hills, says, "Tom personifies what we tell our young doctors. We treat patients; we don't treat insurance. When you're overseas, that's what you're doing, treating patients."

"These are war-torn, poor areas, and it's what it's like to take care of millions of people without the benefit of having state-of-the-art medicine, the things we take for granted every single day," Ozburn told News 2.

The movie was simulcast at 444 movie theaters in 46 different states Monday night and is on the short list of documentaries vying for an Oscar nomination.

Ozburn says, "It really does restore your faith in the human condition, and there's people out there who really do care."

Krueger was not at the Green Hills viewing because he watched the movie in New York City.

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