My Summers in West Africa

About the Book

Medical personal since the days of Dr. Livingston in the mid-1880s have traveled to Africa for a number of reasons. First is to satisfy the innate curiosity that tends to infest every member of the medical profession. Second is the natural desire to lend a helping hand to our fellow man. And third would be to expand our knowledge and understanding of infectious diseases and the medicines used to treat them. It is for these reasons that my book will have an expansive market. Any physician who is contemplating an expedition to West Africa must first research and seek advice from those who have gone before him. He will also find it necessary to brush up on the tropical diseases he will be exposed to and will be expected to treat. My journal summarizes those. Prior to embarking, a physician may well find it necessary to receive some in-services on the unfamiliar surgical procedures that he may be expected to perform. My journal covers those procedures as well. Medicines and essential surgical instruments must be collected and packed ahead of any mission. My journal lists the pharmaceuticals and instruments I found in short supply. To travel into that corner of the world, a physician must also receive the recommended vaccinations and start his/her antimalarial medication in a timely manner. From publications like mine, nurses and physician assistants can get a good idea of what might be expected of them during such a trip. And since the hospital I served is associated with and supplied by a religious organization, this book will help parishioners of any faith better understand how they can best serve their organization’s medical missions. It will also give them encouragement and a better appreciation of the importance of their efforts.

About the Author

Curriculum Vitae Richard D. Evans, DO, FACOS (386) 316-1796 Personal Address: 147 Pine Woods Road, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 Birth date: March 30, 1950 Marital status: married with four children Health: excellent Education BA in history, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida (2000–2002) Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Chicago, Illinois (1973–1977) BA in physiology/anatomy, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois (1969–1973) Training ICD-10-CM (10-5-2011) ICD-10-PCS (10-8-2011) General Surgery Residency, Mount Clemens General Hospital, Mount Clemens, Michigan (1978–1982) Rotating Internship, Mount Clemens General Hospital, Mount Clemens, Michigan (1977–1978) Residency Fourteen months of peripheral vascular surgery Three months of intensive care training at Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital, Detroit, Michigan Three months of pediatric surgery at Michigan’s Children’s Hospital, Detroit, Michigan Gynecological and laparoscopic surgical rotations throughout residency program Board Certification Certified Professional Coder (6-30-2011) The American Osteopathic Board of Surgery (2-17-1986) General and Peripheral Vascular Surgery Professional Associations Florida Osteopathic Medical Association, 2007 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, Florida 32301 (1983–2005) American Osteopathic Association, 212 East Ohio Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611 (1979–present) American College of Osteopathic Surgeons, 123 North Henry Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314 (1978–present) Honors Instructor of the Year, Everest University (June 2007–2008) Teacher of the Year, Peninsula Medical Center (1987–1988) Outstanding Resident Award, Mount Clemens General Hospital (June 1982) Mead Johnson Award for Research, National Osteopathic Foundation (January 1982) Literary Award for research performed on post-operative pain management, American College of Osteopathic Surgeons (October 1981) Chief Resident, Mount Clemens General Hospital, Michigan (1980–1982) Publications “Gastric Rupture as a Complication of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation,” report of case and review of literature, Journal of AOA, Vol. 80, No. 12, 830/104, August 1981. “The Subject Review and Study of Post-Operative Pain Management Utilizing the TENS Unit,” accepted for publication in the Journal of AOA, 1981. Offices Held Chief of Surgery, Memorial Hospital-Peninsula, Ormond Beach, Florida (1999–2000) Member—Board of Trustees, Atlantic Medical Center, Ormond Beach, Florida (1997–1999) Professional Case Reviewer, Department of Professional Regulations (ACAH), Tallahassee, Florida (1991–2000) Chief of Surgery , Peninsula Medical Center, Ormond Beach, Florida (1991–1995) Chief of Surgery , Peninsula Medical Center, Ormond Beach, Florida (1985–1988) Chief of Surgery, University Hospital, Daytona Beach, Florida (1983–1987) Teaching Positions Adjunct professor at Concorde Career College, Orlando, Florida (2012–present) Adjunct professor of Allied Health at Florida Metropolitan University, 9200 Southpark Center Loop, Orlando, Florida (July 2003–2012) Associate professor of Medicine and Surgery at Florida College of Integrative Medicine, Orlando, Florida (July 2001–July 2003) Visiting surgeon and clinical instructor at African Christian Hospital, Aba State, Nigeria, West Africa, duties included training residents in the practice of surgery, providing surgical care, and procuring medical supplies and equipment (1994–2001) Training surgical residents in gastrointestinal endoscopy for Mount Clemens General Hospital, Michigan (1987–2000) ACLS instructor for American Heart Association (1985–1990) Training residents and interns at Peninsula Medical Center (1983–2000) Chief Resident, Mount Clemens General Hospital (1980–1982) Curriculum vitae is updated and current as of October 10, 2014.