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Pediatrician hopes research background can help locally By Tom Gavey The Intelligencer It's fitting that Dr. Judit Vorps seeks out challenging pediatric cases. The native of Hungary has overcome some pretty impres- sive challenges of her own en route to setting up practice in Belleville. Voros set up practice here at 274 Dundas St. E. in mid- August after completing a four- year pediatric residency at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children. Born and educated in Hun- gary, she and her husband and two children came to Canada in 1987 and then overcame several hurdles that allowed her to resume her medical practice. "In Hungary I had the only family practice in a small town. I had everybody, but I always enjoyed pediatrics," says Vorps. Life in her native country was a struggle. "Hungary was still a Com- munist country and we had two children. We felt it would be in their better interests to leave and we spent a year in North Africa," says Voros. From there the family went to Switzerland and applied for refugee status. When they were turned down Voros says they began looking at other coun- tries, includ- ing Canada, the United States and Australia. " C a n a d a was the first to grant us a visa, through a Hungarian church," she says. After com- Dr. Judit ing to Canada Voros in 1987 Vorps had to retrain, including work- ing diligently to improve her English. "I locked myself in a bed- room with medical journals," she remembers. Voros qualified in 1988 for her residency but had to wait until 1992 for a residency. Dur- ing the interim she worked in research at Sick Childrens Hos- pital in Toronto. After her four-year residen- cy in pediatrics Voros and her family began considering cities where should could establish a practice. "We were looking for a smaller town. We had passed through Belleville a few times and we liked what we saw. It was on the water and looked like a nice place to bring up a family," says Voros. She learned there was room for another pediatrician in the Belleville area and was impressed with her reception at Belleville General Hospital. Husband Jyula, who had a law practice in Hungary, now manages the office and he also has his teaching certificate. Sons Jyula, 17 and Endre, 14, attend Bayside Secondary School. "I love children. I like work- ing with a family and seeing a child grow," says Voros. Pediatrics is an area where a lot of advancements are being made and she says she enjoys using her research background to deal with complicated cases. Voros is particularly inter- ested in diseases of the muscles and joints. "Fortunately there are not many children in this area with serious rheumatologocial diseases. But, for those who need it I like to be able to help," says Voros, There is a "dark face" to pediatrics, she adds. "There are some children who don't get better and that takes a toll on me." Voros says she's hoping that area family doctors will refer difficult cases to her in the pediatrics area and she's also taking on new pediatric cases.