Whether she’s healing patients at Valley Children’s or equipping surgeons abroad to do the same for their communities, Dr. Patricia Clerkin’s work rarely stops.
As the medical director of pediatric neurosurgery at Valley Children’s Healthcare, Dr. Clerkin leads a team that treats some of the most complex neurological conditions in children, from congenital spinal deformities to brain tumors and traumatic injuries.
“It’s never a boring day,” she said. “It’s a very satisfying job.”
But her impact isn’t limited to the Central Valley. Dr. Clerkin also volunteers with the Neurosurgical Outreach Foundation, a nonprofit that provides pediatric neurosurgical care and training in the Philippines – where Dr. Clerkin was born.
“The Philippines is a very big country,” she said. “They have a significant deficiency in their ability to provide certain medical care, particularly surgical care.”
Through lectures, hands-on training and direct patient care, Dr. Clerkin and her colleagues are helping to build a more sustainable healthcare system in underserved regions. Their work was recently recognized by the Philippine government with an award honoring overseas nationals who return to serve their homeland.
“I was born in the Philippines. I’m the first child that actually left to go to a four-year university from the family,” she said. “Being Filipino, I felt it was important to provide that kind of service that I can.”
Dr. Clerkin sees her work as a responsibility and a privilege. “This is a gift that I’ve been given. I’ve been trained. Not very many of us have this ability to do this kind of work. And they need it there,” she said.
To learn more about Dr. Clerkin’s trip with NOF, click here.
