Doctor sells photos to raise money for needy patients

By Ann Rubin

KSDK -- Doctors are supposed to heal the body, but sometimes a diagnosis and a prescription just aren't enough. One doctor at St. John's Mercy Medical enter is taking his care a step further.  Dr. Farrin Manian takes photographs in his spare time. Now he's found a way to translate his art into money. For Manian, they're more than just pretty pictures; the photos are a means to an end.

"I thought well maybe what I should do is use these pictures in a good way," he says.  He decided to sell them online, not for a profit but for the Care for AIDS Patients Fund. The money goes to help HIV patients he treats who are struggling to get by.  "The economic reality is many of our patients the very basic needs that we all take for granted met," Manian says.  Ultimately the photos translate to money for everything, from medicine to food to rent for patients.

One woman, who asked not to be identified, says, the program has helped her health.  "It's made a difference between whether I'd have heat or not or food or not," she says. "Because the less stress I have, the better my condition will be."

Just one prescription can often cost thousands and some of the patients are too sick to work. Social workers say Dr. Manian's fund helps relieve some of the burden.  "It's helping ease some of the pain not just medically, but emotionally which is very important to our patients here at the medical center," says social worker Bob Dierker.  Manian adds, "No applications filled out by them, no wait time. We know them we know what their needs are."

The photos run about $40 a piece, but donations of any amount are accepted. Dr. Manian says it's his way of merging his hobby and his profession to help others.  "It works really wonderful for us and for the patients too obviously," he says.

To buy photos or donate to the fund you can check out Dr. Manian's website at www.doctorsbestshots.com.