Interview with Dr. Peter Acker

Our world is filled with extraordinarily compassionate individuals who devote their lives to helping improve the quality of life of those around us. The quality of medicine and caregiving has continued to increase over time as a result of the growing healthcare industry, improved technology, and recent developments in research. Unfortunately, this upwards trend is not consistent worldwide as many countries struggle to retain medical professionals and preserve resources.

Dr. Peter Acker recognized the importance of this international health crisis and sought to do his part. He decided to start his work in Cambodia which despite its improving economy remains extremely impoverished today. While in Cambodia, Dr. Acker conducted administrative work that involved coordinating the development of a budding ambulance and emergency referral system. The goal was to increase access to life-saving treatments, such as emergency surgery and blood transfusions, for patients unable to find transportation to medical centers. With his team, Dr. Acker hoped to create a system that allowed patients, especially vulnerable mothers and newborns, to receive care as efficiently as possible. Along with his work in the Cambodian provinces, he worked with both the GVK EMRI ambulance system in India and Nepal. After his return to America, Dr. Acker began work at Stanford Health Care but still worked with prehospital health care advisors to put together educational materials for Uganda, India, and Cambodia. His experience with global emergency care provided him with insight into different medical systems around the world which allows him to determine where changes must be made. There is a lot of progress to be made to uplift countries to a point where the quality and efficiency of care improve, but Dr. Acker is excited to see what the future holds.

While Dr. Acker is still embarking on this journey of global emergency, his journey to becoming a physician began at Lewis & Clark University. He always had a love for science and was intrigued by its application to help people. Dr. Acker believed that developments in science could help the general well-being of society, not only patients in need. Upon graduation, he attended Tufts University School of Medicine for his MD, as well as MPH, and then completed his residency at the University of Chicago. During his residency, he was often “thrown into the deep end” to figure out situations on the fly; this high degree of autonomy was both a blessing and a curse. He learned to adapt, and went on to serve as chief resident. After completing his residency, he moved to California to pursue a fellowship in international emergency medicine at Stanford. Since then, he has continued to apply his education and practice as a Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine’s Department of Emergency Medicine.

Dr. Acker has absolutely no regrets for the career he has chosen for himself but does recount the countless sacrifices he had to make for it. Because of all the time dedicated to his goal, he does remember missing many family milestones. It is no secret that it is hard to balance a social and professional life, and he definitely felt this pressure during his long years of education. Dr. Acker does recognize the importance of carving out time to enjoy time with his friends and family. Partaking in outdoor activities such as surfing, and biking also allows him to enjoy his time away from work and clear his head.

Dr. Acker says the "summation of it all, is getting to meet people at their most vulnerable times who choose to accept you as a caretaker." He considers himself lucky to be able to help someone who may be going through a particularly vulnerable time. Through his experience, he has realized that it is not always possible to serve all the needs of each individual as there just aren’t enough hours in a day. Sometimes he has to treat a patient’s most acute needs and move on to the next urgent patient which can leave little time to form a connection with the patient. This in turn makes it difficult to be a humanistic and holistic caretaker at times. The most important part is to try your best, regardless of limitations, to meet everyone’s needs to the best of your ability. While this is a noble feat, it can also be physically, emotionally, and mentally draining so it is important for medical providers to have support systems for their own self-preservation. Dr. Acker has an incredible support system which includes his wife who also serves as an Emergency Department Critical Care Nurse, and friends who help him step away and turn off his “medical mindset” to focus on his life outside of work.

Dr. Acker is truly an inspiration, and the progress made in optimizing international ambulance systems is a testament to his hard work in global emergency medicine and dedication to his craft. For anyone looking to pursue their passions in the medical field, “as corny as it sounds, life is full of uncertainties. The patient you’re caring for could be any one of us someday so live life to the fullest with no regrets; you never know what the future will hold.”