The Philip C. Johnson III Veteran Service Award is presented annually to a former Volunteer for distinguished service to AMIGOS. In 2007, an outstanding alumna was honored with the award.
(February 5, 2008) Diane Dabrowiecki Lorence, M.D., first becameinvolved as an AMIGOS Volunteer in Nicaragua in 1976. She was a
20-year-old college student studying biology and Spanish at the University of California, Berkeley, when she heard about AMIGOS from her brother’s roommate. She commuted three hours each week to participate in training through the Marin Chapter of AMIGOS. Diane had known she was going to become a doctor since the age of four and AMIGOS helped her get closer to that goal.
Her experience vaccinating Latin American community members in a rural town of about 8,000 people that summer, forever changed her life. Diane and her partner administered at least 3,200 vaccines in three and a half weeks and formed meaningful bonds with the community.
“Everyone says it’s the hardest job you’ll ever love,” said Diane, who walked many miles each day to vaccinate children. “It was so delightful to realize what an impact one person can make, and I almost felt like a doctor even though I was just a pre-med student.”
Diane's international adventures continued after her AMIGOS experience. She attended medical school in Poland from 1977 to 1983 during communist rule.
Diane returned to the United States in 1983 where she did her Family Practice residency in Pennsylvania. She settled in the Bay area of California shortly afterwards where she continues to practice today.
Diane has continued her involvement with AMIGOS. She was the medical director of the San Francisco Chapter from 1987-1990 and also served as the medical director of the East Bay Chapter in 2001-2002. Diane joined the International Board of AMIGOS in 2004 and became the medical director in 2007.
Both of Diane’s sons participated in AMIGOS. Dominic Dabrowiecki was a Volunteer in Paraguay in 2002, and Alex Dabrowiecki volunteered in Costa Rica in 2004. Alex will return to the AMIGOS program as a Project Supervisor during summer 2008.
Diane has been consistently amazed by the personal growth her sons and other young people experience through AMIGOS’ programs.
“Young people always come back changed. It may be a hard summer with a partner or complicated host family, but they rise to the challenge,” Diane explained. “No matter how tough the situation, AMIGOS shines through and affects kids so deeply. That’s what I love seeing and why I continue to be involved with AMIGOS.”
The importance and impact of alumni involvement in AMIGOS is clear when looking at the significant contributions of Diane. The International Board of Directors and staff applaud and sincerely thank Diane for her long-standing dedication to the AMIGOS mission.
