Half a decade ago, Bhavna and I spent some time backpacking our way across Cambodia. Whilst we were doing the usual rounds, looking at temples, and doing the expected touristy things, we came across a huge hospital, with the sign below:
While figuring out the details of this "Beatocello concert", which we had never even heard of prior to our trip to Siem Reap, did we learn about the amazing life of Dr. Beat "Beatocello" Richner. As we read more about this incredible physician and his life's work, with much regret, we learnt of his death, which had happened only a couple of months prior to our trip to Cambodia.
Dr. Richner trained in Pediatrics at the Zurich Children's Hospital, graduating in 1973. In 1974, the Swiss Red Cross dispatched him to Cambodia, which was mired in a civil war, a struggle for power between the rebel forces of the Khmer Rouge and the government of Lon Nol. Dr. Richner's mission came to an abrupt halt when he was sent back home by the Khmer Rouge once they had ousted the sitting government and grabbed power. Dr. Richner returned to Zurich and started working at the Children's Hospital. In 1980, he...
