How LibreOffice helped me create a math game for future doctors and nurses

Try this free, open source math game for growing new doctors and inspiring education.

For years, LibreOffice has been a valuable companion. I use its word processor, drawing program, presentation tool, and have recently developed a growing fondness for its spreadsheet capabilities. But it wasn’t until I found myself in the emergency room with severe jaundice that I truly grasped the power of LibreOffice.

After waiting 14 hours to see a doctor, I learned that the emergency department was understaffed due to the pandemic, leaving current doctors and nurses with heavy workloads. When Dr. Lightfoot finally saw me, he explained the situation, and I found myself inspired to help solve the shortage. I told him, “I work at a public library, and now it’s my duty to grow new doctors and nurses.” I went on to explain how I’d created a free recreational math game for students using LibreOffice Calc.

Dr. Lightfoot passed me into the capable hands of Dawn Lupica, PA (physician assistant). She calmly told me, “Phil, you need a liver transplant, and I’m going to call MedStar Georgetown University Hospital to see if they can accept you as a patient.”

Thirty minutes later, she returned with good news: “I’ve gotten you into Georgetown.” It was then that I realized she was much more than just a skilled medical professional—she was an ally, willing to do whatever it took to save my life. In that moment, I made a silent promise: If I come through this with a successful liver transplant, I’m going to honor my promise to grow new doctors and physician assistants—through my math game and in any other way I can.

That game, initially designed for middle schoolers, has grown to include versions for both elementary and middle school students. You can download the PDFs of the game at www.pairsmathgame.com. I encourage you to adapt and improve it—after all, that’s the open source way.

Thanks to Dr. Lightfoot and Ms. Lupica’s efforts, I was able to get the care I needed and eventually had a successful liver transplant. I’ve fully recovered, and when I asked Dr. Lightfoot if he’d ever considered leaving medicine, he simply said, “There is no way I would ever leave the medical profession. This job is difficult, but there’s nothing else I would rather do.” His dedication reaffirmed my belief in the power of healthcare professionals, even in the toughest of times.

I now realize that creating an enjoyable experience with math at home is essential for nurturing future doctors and nurses. Many students don’t like math, and in my work at the library, I’ve seen that firsthand. But instead of forcing students into a rigid math curriculum, we should find ways to make math fun—through games and creativity. If students learn to enjoy math, they might just see it as an essential tool for future careers, whether in medicine or beyond.

Before I understood its full potential, I never imagined that LibreOffice Calc could play a role in growing new doctors. But now, I see it as a tool not only for spreadsheets, but for inspiring creativity and shaping futures. So, what else can LibreOffice do? Its power is limited only by our imaginations.

I’m excited to see how this math game, and other open source projects, can reach new audiences—children’s hospitals, retirement homes, refugee camps—and provide “cognitive solace” during challenging times. Let’s use tools like LibreOffice to bring people together, engage minds, and, who knows, maybe even inspire the next generation of doctors and nurses.