Wearing a white lab coat and carrying a stethoscope is not
really what being a doctor is all about. At least not for Doctor David Appel.
As a pediatrician and the director of Montefiore
Medical Center’s
School Health Program, Dr. Appel does so much more than seeing patients and
writing prescriptions. This father of two and full-time doctor leads an
organization that gives more than 20,000 Bronx children the healthcare they
need through clinics at 18 of the borough’s elementary, middle and high
schools. It’s the largest program of its kind in the country, at a time
when many youth rely on public health initiatives.
“The program was very welcomed by the schools,” Appel notes.
“The kids loved us, the parents trusted us, and the schools depended on us once
we were there to handle a lot of the urgent medical and emotional crises.”
Besides primary care, preventive and treatment services, the
clinics also provide dental, mental health and community-based assistance. And
while Appel is thrilled with the impact his organization has had on the lives
of children in underserved communities, he is always thinking one step ahead.
“There are always challenges,” he says. “Getting the
adequate space for services and funding.”
Appel’s reasons for getting involved in the community
schools are pure and simple: the kids. His mission is to ensure that children
receive exceptional care and develop into independent adults who can live fully
satisfying lives.
“I think people are realizing the value of having stable,
comprehensive services for children that meet their needs, often in
neighborhoods where they don’t have anywhere else to turn,” he remarks.
But while his work with the school health program is
demanding, Appel finds fatherhood to be the greatest test. “It’s a 24-hour,
7-days-a-week job. You have to be available always,” he says. “It’s a challenge,
but it’s a good challenge. Raising your kids right,” he insists, “it’s the most
important thing you can do.”
With him and his wife both juggling career and family, the
Appels prioritize shared responsibilities, family meals, time spent outdoors
and regular vacations. Camping, hiking, bicycling, even embarrassing his two
kids—Jonathan and Emily—with his Spanish-speaking abilities (or lack thereof!)
while traveling in Costa Rica
is cherished family time.
Last year, the twosome made homemade cards and wrote Father’s
Day poems. It was the perfect gift for a deserving dad. Appel remembers, “I
loved that…It made me feel very appreciated.”
For more information
on Montefiore Medical Center’s School Health Program, visit montekids.org.
