Introductions...

I like doing introductions… Today I got to introduce a concept at the Liberia Medical and Dental Association (LMDA) meeting: the concept of starting Family Medicine Residency training in Liberia.  

I’ve been having some discussions with those in authority over physician training, and they encouraged me to speak on this topic at the LMDA. I reviewed the exciting history of the discipline in Nigeria, where thousands of Family Medicine residents have been trained since the early 1980s; reflected on some of my own experiences over the last 18 years; and wrapped up by asking the question “Is it the right time for Family Medicine in Liberia?” 

There was some pretty enthusiastic support for the concept, as well as some lively questions and discussion about the logistics and details. I was joined at the meeting by our newest arrival, Dr. Kent Brantly, a Family Physician from the US serving here through the Samaritans’ Purse/World Medical Mission 2-year Post-Residency Program. He’ll also be a part of developing this vision. We are anxious to see what God is going to do! 

A Trip Down Memory Lane

www.sim.org featured an article today about our evacuation from Liberia in April 1996.  It has some great photos as well as a good account of that day from someone who remembers the details far better than I do.

http://simusa.org/content/latest-news/3247/a_17_year_evacuation_reunion

 Transitions…

Debbie and I have been here a week… we’re over jet lag; I’ve even seen a couple patients! But we’re just getting into the real business of this transition, and we are right in the middle of a rather big transition for ELWA Hospital that will last at least another year. 

The obvious physical transition is that ELWA is going to move into a new hospital, hopefully by the end of 2014.  The hospital is being built for ELWA by Samaritan’s Purse (SP). The Kitchen/Laundry Building is complete; the cement block structure of the new Outpatient Clinic is mostly done; the Male, Female, and Pediatrics Wards are being built; and the Operating Room and Obstetrics Ward will be next. 

Some masons working on the upstairs Pediatrics Ward (above), and the new Male Ward (below).

SP’s Construction Supervisor, our good friend Rusty Laird, alongside the Outpatient Clinic (below):

The less visible transition is actually even more challenging, but also more rewarding.  We already have 2 new surgeons here (one missionary and one Liberian); two more family docs are scheduled to arrive during the next couple of months.  We will need to find ways to fit in with the doctors already here working, to improve the conditions and care at the hospital to a level where both effective ministry and residency training can take place, and begin the routines of quality improvement and learning that will help us start a Family Medicine Residency Program for local doctors.  All with a cross-cultural team of physicians.  Should be exciting!  Stay tuned…. 

This may be a bit abstract or esoteric... but it's time to reactivate this channel of communicating with all my good friends.  This is a "55 word story" I wrote a while ago at the family health center, reflecting on a visit I had with a patient in downtown Worcester.  It is more of a "closer"... closing this chapter.  Soon you'll be hearing more about Liberia, as we are heading there September 25th.

The Encounter

I've never met you before
my 48 years and your 50 intersecting for 20 minutes
but your life is complicated
too much pain, diabetes, cigarettes, foster kids, your own kids, kids with psychiatry appointments.
But my job is to care for you
your blood sugars, your pain medication, your kidneys.
Do you want to quit?
Time's up for now

Safe Trip!

Just got back from a week in California, visiting friends, prayer partners, and God's people who have served alongside us in Liberia.  Awesome trip!  California has some of God's awesome handiwork! from sequoias to starfish to a wide range of wonderful people!

Working  over the next 2 weeks on some things that need to happen to get us back to Liberia! God has provided several additional staff for ELWA who will help us to start a new residency program for Liberian family doctors. Please continue to pray for us and stay in touch for more info!  --Rick

I am at the Global Missions Health Conference in Kentucky.  Just awesome to be here with so many people who are willing to plant the seed of their lives and see what God will do!  Too many amazing stories!

God is leading us in the direction of starting a Family Medicine residency at ELWA Hospital in Liberia. Here are links--to a brochure about the vision for the residency program:   https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BxmrBCeqHyiLeFQyREoycElzVFE    and to our recent prayer letter   https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BxmrBCeqHyiLWFdXVEJrOG4xM2M

Thanks!  Yours, Rick for all of us.

How to move a BIG rock…

At the end of January, I (Rick) went on a 3 week trip to Africa. My goal was to do as much as possible to prepare for a return to Liberia in 2013, when I hope to get involved in training Family Physicians for Liberia. I spent the first 12 days or so in Nigeria, learning about the Family Medicine Residency Training programs there—how they structure their curriculum; how they do their testing; and how they evaluate their trainees. The training in West Africa is quite different than the training here in the U.S. Another SIM doc, Dr. Laura Smelter, was there preparing to begin work at Egbe Hospital and she needed to learn a lot of the same things I did—so it was great to get to know her and to have a fellow learner along to compare notes with. Dr. Musa Dankyau was our main teacher and guide—he was very generous with his time and has a wonderful and Godly perspective on his work as a physician. Here is Dr. Dankyau with his two trainees…

I then spent a week in Liberia. I had some wonderful visits with family friends; Ben and Natalie Colby graciously hosted me. One day, I had an appointment get cancelled, but instead got to observe at an important meeting on post-graduate education in Liberia, which is exactly what I am most interested in!

Finally, I was to leave on Wednesday February 8^th, but my flight was cancelled due to a dust storm blowing off the Sahara. The pilots could not see well enough to land the plane. My departure was delayed by 3 days. When God clears my schedule like that and gives me a free day—after all, no one knew I was even still in Liberia—I figure it is an opportunity to spend some time with Him. Thursday morning I went on a long walk on the beach, and before long the Lord gave me a picture to inspire me. ELWA (the ministry umbrella which operates ELWA Hospital, ELWA Academy, and ELWA Radio) has about 300 staff. Right now there are many challenges—ministry challenges, financial challenges. As I looked at one of the huge rocks along the beach, I got to thinking—if we have 300 people, and we want to move the rock, what is the best way to do it? Should we choose the strongest individual from among us, and give them the task of moving the rock, as our "champion"? Or should we choose the 10 most intelligent, most dedicated members of the staff to move the rock? Should we just pray and ask Jesus to move the rock? In my devotions that morning, I had been reading (Ephesians 3:10) how God wants to use the Church "to make known the manifold wisdom of God" to the Angels! I came to the inescapable conclusion that the only way to move that big rock would be to get a big rope around it and have ALL 300 of us pull with all our might as we prayed. God wants to use the body of Christ to overcome obstacles—when every member of the body is fully functioning and working in unity, then we will see results. I shared these thoughts with the Hospital Staff on Friday morning, and I continue to pray for more unity and fellowship to draw us all together in the task God has called us to. Thanks to all who prayed for my trip—I saw God's hand at work in so many ways! Yours, Rick