After multiple humanitarian trips to war-torn and impoverished countries to provide medical aid, Dr. Glen Barden will provide his much-needed services to the people of the Bahamas.

Barden is working with Samaritan’s Purse as part of its Disaster Assistance Relief Team in the Bahamas. While the hospital is still standing after Hurricane Dorian, the interior was destroyed by water damage.

Barden’s wife, Em, said he and his team have set up a camp to perform normal hospital operations for the next three weeks.

In addition to serving on United Way of Central Florida’s Tocqueville Committee, Barden  has volunteered his medical expertise in Iraq and Ecuador for Samaritan’s Purse and in Tanzania, Peru, Ghana and Ethiopia for Health Volunteers Overseas.

“He loves working with Samaritan’s Purse,” Em Barden said. “He had the call to do this even before he retired. He feels its a calling on his life and he has all the skills and background that he can still use.

Barden, 80, is a retired orthopedic surgeon, member of UWCF’s Alexis de Tocqueville Society and a founding member of Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine.

While he officially retired from Watson Clinic 11 years ago, Barden still works one day a week at LVIM and continues to stay active with humanitarian aid trips.

“Dr. Barden continuously inspires our staff, board, partners and volunteers by his selfless leadership and service to those in need, locally and abroad,” said Christina Criser, President and CEO of UWCF. “We are honored to have him as a part of our United Way family.”