MEET DR. GARY KIRKILAS | JUNE 23RD, 2023
First, for those who may not know you. Please share a little background about yourself and your journey as a pediatrician.
I completed medical school at Touro University in Northern California and my pediatric residency at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital in Southern California. I currently work at Phoenix Children’s in the Homeless Youth Outreach Program.
2. I read online that your office is a 35-foot mobile medical mobile unit that travels to various homeless shelters in Downtown Phoenix that provide free medical care throughout the state of Arizona. Can you tell me some of your highlights from this experience?
Yes, each of our mobile medical units are equipped with two exam rooms, a small lab for blood draws, and a compact pharmacy for dispensing medications. The program runs out of Phoenix Children’s Homeless Youth Outreach Program, which has been around for more than 20 years. We spend the morning providing medical care, including comprehensive well visits, any acute sick needs and emotional health concerns. After the morning clinic, we head to another clinic site for the afternoon and continue our care, bringing our services to communities that need them most. Each day, our locations are different, which makes for a varied week. I appreciate the constant change that helps keep me engaged.
3. What ethical dilemmas do you encounter in your work, and how do you tackle them?
On any given night, there are potentially 3,000 to 5,000 young people experiencing homelessness in Arizona. Working with the homeless population, especially children, can be emotionally taxing. However, even the smallest contribution toward alleviating some of their heavy burden brings immense satisfaction. It’s wonderful to witness the impact even a single interaction with a family can have. Every day there are successes, such as a teen getting into counseling and free from substance use or ensuring a toddler can finally receive all his missing vaccinations.
4. I also read online that you took part in the American Ninja Warrior. How was that experience like? What was your favorite part of the experience?
It was a very intimidating experience to be around such high-level athletes. American Ninja Warrior first started off as an entertaining show featuring just ordinary folks attempting daunting obstacles, but it has quickly progressed to include some elite athletes from parkour, gymnastics, and rock-climbing circles. Overall, it was fun to be in that world for a couple years: training in ninja gyms and making trips out to LA to film. I have always loved competing and the adrenaline rush that tackling physical obstacles gives me; this was such an exciting opportunity for both. I look back on it as an exciting adventure, as well as a humbling experience remembering the footage of my ungraceful fall in obstacle five.
5. What advice would you give to students interested in following in your footsteps?
Throw yourself in the mix where you can. Start getting exposure to this kind of meaningful work early on.
There are several opportunities to volunteer in homeless clinics or street medicine clinics in most
metropolitan areas. Additionally, volunteering with organizations like Boys and Girls Club or Big Brother
Big Sisters of America will give you the necessary experience and communication skills to speak and truly
connect with people from a wide variety of cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds.
By: Dr. Gary Kirkilas, DO
Phoenix Children’s
1919 E. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85016 | p 602-933-1000 | phoenixchildrens.org