Pablo Ortiz is a doctor, but he spends more time in the jungle than in a hospital. For 29 years, he has dedicated his life to helping the Ngäbe people, the largest Indigenous group in Panama and Costa Rica, with a population of over 100,000. At just 17, Pablo traveled to the USSR to study medicine. When he returned to Costa Rica, he was sent to work in a remote region populated by Indigenous communities. Armed with little more than a small hut and almost no equipment, he treated 100–150 patients a day.
Earning his patients’ trust wasn’t easy—he had to overcome deep-rooted skepticism and the influence of centuries-old shamanic traditions. At one point, the shamans even cursed Pablo, hoping to drive him away. But his unwavering courage and dedication earned him their respect, and over time, Doctor «White Beard» became a trusted healer among the native people.
Doctor «White Beard»
