USD President's Report 1989

T H E

"in those days you did not say no when it came to the advance of women in medicine. You did it not just for yourself but for all women ." She relishes the gift of faith she has received from her church, a gift she repays through service in many capacities, from the parish to the international level. Similarly, she feels special fondness toward USO, on whose board of trustees she has served since !952. But, the tiny dynamo readily admits, her friendship with Mother Teresa-which blossomed after a personal meeting in !960- has deepened her understanding of love and charity in wonderful new dimensions. " Mother Teresa reminded me that we must learn to see Christ in everyone we encounter, not only in the obviously disad- "You can't make excuses around Mother Teresa. There is no such thing as can't in her world. You just do it." -Anita Figueredo vantaged," she says. " Here I was with all of these people in my life, and it caused me to re-examine those relationships. I was meet- ing all their needs, but it's true-the neediest person may be the one who sits across from you at the breakfast table." She also learned, "You can't make excuses around Mother Teresa. There is no such thing as can't in her world. You just do it," she says, her eyes twinkling . Dr. Figueredo joined Mother Teresa's

COMPASSIONATE PHYSICIAN

Her home is likely the only La Jolla beachfront property that serves as a warehouse for used clothing destined for various shelters for the needy. It is almost certainly the only home where, nestled alongside the family photo albums in the living room, are scrapbooks filled with letters from Mother Teresa as well as newspaper clippings about the world famous friend to the poor. Her more than 30-year friendship with Mother Teresa has deepened her faith and her resolve to do what she can to improve the quality of life for the poor.

She gained new insights into com- passion after deciding as a young woman to pursue a career in the medical profession, a profession through which she has donated her services to the needy for years. The fiesty mother of nine chose to study oncology because she was asked to accept a position at New York's Memorial Cancer Center and

Looking back, Dr. Anita Figueredo traces the beginning of her lifelong commit- ment to serving others to her childhood in New York, when she looked forward to helping her mother house and feed students and new immigrants from their native Costa Rica. " We learned early about the giving of hospitality," Dr. Figueredo says simply.

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