Tulsa Medical Missionaries Head For Iraq To Treat Syrian Refugees

Some of Oklahoma's Own have answered a call for help halfway around the world.

A group of medical missionaries took off from Tulsa on Saturday, and they are on their way to the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

The doctors have a long trip ahead of them. They'll spend the next 10 days treating people displaced by the Syria's civil war.

Eight doctors and four medical support members are bringing with them medical supplies and their faith to help the refugees.

The group is based out of St. John Medical Center in Tulsa.

Dr. Mitch Duininck said he was approached by doctors in that region.

Duininck said he answered their call for help.

"Medicine is designed by nature to help people that are hurting, to help people that are suffering," he said. "And what we want to do, is go in there and do whatever we can for them and treat the whole person, not just give out pills."

Once the group gets into the region, they will have to go in by bus to get to their medical facility.

Coming tonight at 9 and 10, we'll speak with one doctor who wants to become a full-time medical missionary.