Ghana Physicians and Surgeons Foundation o North Ameica ......care clinics in community healthcare,...

Address: 4101 Tates Creek Centre Dr.Suite 150 PMB-294Lexington, KY 40517

Phone: 601-955-0903 Email: [email protected]: www.ghanaphysicians.org

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Ghana Physicians and Surgeons Foundation of North America

EDITORIAL BOARD GEORGE AGYAPONGJAMES AIKENSKWABENA BOAKYETHEODORA FYNNVICTOR OWUSU-YAWNII TETTEH

FOUNDATION OFFICERS THEODORA FYNNKWABENA BOAKYEAFUA NANYINGLORIA ADJEKUMLOUISA LAWSON

GRAPHICS AND WEB DESIGNGLORIA AGYEKUMKWABENA BOAKYE NATHANIEL LAWSON

MEMBER PROFILE/ SOCIAL MEDIA/NGO AFFAIRS AFUA NANYINTHEODORA FYNN

FROM THE EDITORIAL DESK

WWe are please to bring you the fall edition of GPSF news.As our tradition has been you will read about what the members of our

community have achieved during the first half of the year.

The Editorial Board and Executive Committee would like to thank our annual conference participants, presenters, the Ghanaian community of Los Angeles and invited guests for making our conference a success.

By the time you receive this, our gracious faculty would have been in Accra to help with CME efforts of the college GCPS. We thank a Volunteer Faculty and Clinical Missions Team for dedicating their time, efforts and ideas to the evolution of our organization and helping to advance the spirit of giving and compassion amongst our members.

Thank you all for being torchbearers and encouragers for us all to want to play a part in the enhancement of our local and international communities.

Get involved for personal growth, build new friendships and move forward with our vision for the coming years.

Enjoy this issue

Editorial Board

IN THIS EDITION

Fall 2018 Edition



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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Dr. Nii TettehUndergraduate: Yale University, New Haven, CT, B.S. in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry (MB&B), & International Studies Cum Laude, 1997; M.S. in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry (MB&B), 1997Medical School: Harvard Medical School, Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences & Technology (HST), Boston, MA, Doctor of Medi-cine Cum Laude, 2002Residency: Harvard Combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residen-cy Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 2006Professional Designations: Fellow, American College of Physicians; Fellow, American Academy of PediatricsCurrent Position: Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant Physician, General Medicine Division; Assistant Pe-diatrician, General Pediatrics Division, Massachusetts General HospitalClinical Activities: Teaching Hospitalist, Internal Medicine, Pediat-rics; Urgent Care Medicine Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Emergency MedicineMajor Professional Activities: Admissions Committee, Harvard Med-ical School; M.D. Board of Advisors, Harvard Medical School; Ameri-can College of Physicians (ACP) Massachusetts Chapter- Co-President Early Career Physicians (ECP) Council, Governor’s Council MemberGPSF Positions: Treasurer (2011-2014), Director of Media (2014-2016), Newsletter Editorial Board (2016-present), President of New England Regional Chapter

Dr. Nii Tetteh is an Internist and Pediatrician with professionalstaff appointments in the Divisions of General Medicine and Pediatrics at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and an Assis-tant Professor at Harvard Medical School (HMS), both in Boston, Massachusetts. After completing a combined 4-year B.S./M.S. degree in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry at Yale, he enrolled in the Harvard-MIT HST Program at Harvard Medical School, pursuing a 5-yr MD degree with research honors thesis in Pediatric Molecular

Dr. Nii Tetteh



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Oncology. Following residency training in the Harvard Combined Internal Medicine -Pediatrics Program, Dr. Tetteh went on to join the clinical and academic faculties at MGH and HMS. He specializes in the general care of adult and pediatric patients in both ambulatory and inpatient settings. His clinical care activities include direct patient care to a broad spectrum of adult and pediatric patients with diverse needs across the entire socio-economic spectrum, spanning all ethnic-ities, and many countries around the globe. He enjoys teaching and supervising medical students and residents, has served on the HMS/HST Medical School Admissions and Curriculum Committees, and has been actively involved with the American College of Physicians (ACP) Massachusetts Chapter, serving on the Council of Early Career Physicians (ECP), the Governor’s Council, as the current Co-President of the ECP

His broader professional interests include the role ambulatory urgent care clinics in community healthcare, and optimizing the care of un-derserved populations, and of medical practice in resource-constrained international settings. International medical experience includes travel to South Africa, Ghana, Angola and India on medical trips, as well as to a native American Indian reservation in New Mexico. He has been a member of GPSF since 2011 and has served in number of roles within GPSF since that time including serving as Treasurer, website developer, conference registration clerk, newsletter editor, and presiding over the New England Regional Chapter.



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CME ACTIVITIES/FIESTA

CME2018 Ghana Physicians and Surgeons Foundation Post Conference Press Release:

The Ghana Physicians and Surgeons Foundation (GPSF) held its annual conference in Los Angeles, California, USA. The theme this year was “Non-Communicable Disease: Prevention and Management Dilemma”. Distinguished speakers from both the USA and Africa graced the occasion, notable amongst them being H.E Robert Sichinga, Jnr, Honorary Consul of Zambia in California, Honorable Mr. Agyemang-Manu, Minister of Health, Ghana and Mr. Akwasi Awua Ababio, the Director of Diaspora Affairs (Office of the President, Republic of Ghana).

The guest speaker, H.E Robert Sichinga, Jnr talked about the need to close Africa’s healthcare disparity gap. Other topics that were

presented included: assessing disparities in global non- communicable diseases: what survey data tells us, strategies to combat cardiovascular diseases, frontiers in cardiac care in Ghana, obesity, health and sex education to cancer screenings in Ghana, hepatocellular cancer, updates on management of breast, colon and lung cancer, the global burden of neurological disorders and the impact of religion and culture on health.

The Ghanaian delegation was led by Honorable Mr. Agyemang-Manu and included the Director General of Ghana Health Services (GHS), Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare , the Rector of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons ( GCPS), Professor Jacob Plange-Rhule, the Director of the Ghana Medical and Dental Council (GMDC), Dr. Eli Atikpui and his deputy Dr Divine Banyubala, Dr. Kenneth Sagoe, a Health Service Consultant, the Vice President of the Ghana Medical

Group Picture of members



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Association, Dr. Frank Serebour and the CEO of the University of Ghana Medical Center, Professor Aaron Lawson .

Given the vision and mission of GPSF, it is always mutually beneficial when the leadership of Ghana’s Health Sector attend our annual conference. As part of the proceedings at the 2018 conference, the Ghanaian delegation gave a presentation on the current state of affairs of GCPS and Ghana Health Services, the advances that these institutions have made and present challenges.

There were both formal and informal plenary sessions which facilitated cordial interactions on areas of mutual concerns. These sessions provided ideas and suggestions on how GPSF could assist in medical education, health care delivery and maintenance in Ghana. The director of the Diaspora Affairs reaffirmed the recognition of medical professionals in the diaspora as an untapped resource and reiterated that his office at the presidency would work with GPSF to facilitate projects that will be undertaken by the organization in Ghana.

Next year’s conference theme will be “Rethinking Medical Education to Meet Contemporary Health Care Needs.”

Delegates from Ghana



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Ghana Physicians and Surgeons Foundation of North AmericaNGO AFFAIRS / GHANA MISSION TEAMSGold Coast Medical Foundation

Report by 2018 GPSF Medical Mission volunteer Kwasi Karikari MD, FACP, CHCQM, GPSF GA CHAPTER.

In June 2018, I had the distinct opportunity to provide continuity to the medical mission program and spent two weeks attending to patients at Tarkwa Municipal Hospital (TMH) in various departments including the Female Medical Ward, Male Medical Ward, Accident & Emergency, Surgery Ward consultations, and Outpatient Department. The success of this mission is attributed to the dedicated and compassionate healthcare providers at TMH specifically, the Medical Officers, Pharmacists, PAs, RNs, and students (medical, midwife, PA, nursing) who comprised the daily rounding team on the wards. Additionally, the coordination and support of the ancillary staff to the smooth operation of TMH was noticeable as the wards and hallways were impeccably clean which I witnessed daily.

The palpable culture at TMH has been and continues to be one of an aspiration to become a center of excellence and to provide quality health care services motivated by competent and people-centered staff in a humane environment under the approachable and interactive leadership of Dr. Sarpong, Surgeon, and Medical Superintendent of TMH, Madam Amissah, Deputy Director of Nursing (DDNS), Mr. Danso, TMH Administrator, and their support staff.Historically, GPSF medical missions to TMH has included donations of medications, surgical instruments, foley catheters and a variety of necessary medical supplies including three thousand prescription reading glasses to the hospital. GPSF is grateful to these donations sponsored by AMERICARES, a world’s leading nonprofit provider of donated medicine and medical supplies based in USA. During my trip this June 2018, AMERICARES



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continued their commitment to GPSF medical missions and Stephanie Bertsch-Merbach (Senior Associate, Medical Outreach, AMERICARES) coordinated a donation of 300 pounds weight of critical acute care medications as detailed and documented below to TMH.

All donations are dispensed and given to patients at no cost and Ghana Health Services, as well TMH continues their commitment of ensuring that these medications are not sold to patients.

In conclusion, “we should not be limited by our challenges but rather, we should challenge our limits”- Jerry Dunn. GPSF medical mission to TMH is a noble and altruistic cause and I would encourage active participation by any clinician or healthcare provider who wants to experience a gratifying and memorable journey by contributing to improve healthcare delivery in Ghana.

Madam Mary Yvonne Amissah, (DDNS) receiving donated medicines from Dr. Kwasi Karikari. She is flanked on her left by Dr. Frederick Yaw Sarpong, Surgeon and Medical Superintendent of Tarkwa Municipal Hospital.



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Young Physicians/medical Student

George was raised by a single mother in Ghana, whose passing in his early life inspired his interest in medicine. He studied Pharmacy at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and served as President of the Ghana Pharmaceutical Students Association. There, he initiated programs to fund and expand student-led health outreach in urban and rural communities in Ghana, an experience that solidified his commitment to a career in medicine. He moved to the US after his undergraduate education to pursue a non-traditional path towards medicine, obtaining a master’s degree in Biological Sciences, while serving in the Army Reserve as a Combat Medic, and completing additional undergraduate coursework.

Currently a fourth-year medical student at Harvard Medical School (HMS), George remains engaged with underserved communities in Boston through service-learning initiatives. He currently serves as Principal Innovator for a student project supported by the Agents of Change Award from the HMS Center for Primary Care, piloting a new curriculum to provide tailored nutrition information and support for families within the early intervention program at The Dimock Center in Boston. Outside the classroom, he enjoys spending time with his one-year old son and wife as well as singing choral music at church. Grateful for the opportunities and lessons that marked his journey into medicine, George remains committed to increasing diversity in the medical education pipeline, particularly supporting underrepresented applicants through the medical school application process.

George is a National Medical Fellowships Scholar of the 2018 Primary Care Leadership Program (PCLP) and a recipient of the 2018 American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (ASTMH) Ben Kean Fellowship Award. These awards afforded him opportunities to understand innovative models of healthcare delivery in underserved communities in Massachusetts and in Malawi. He hopes to pursue a career that harnesses such experiences - as a clinician, educator, and community leader – to promote and sustain initiatives that benefit impoverished communities in Ghana and elsewhere.

George Agyapong



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RITES PROGRAM/SCHOLARSHIP

2018 RITES PROGRAM OF THE GHANA PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS FOUNDATION

PREPARATIONThe first information I obtained about the RITES program was on the 6th of April 2018. My Head of Directorate at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital called to inform me that the Chairperson of the Faculty of Radiology at the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons had asked for recommendations for a scholarship program being offered through the College. Luckily, my Directorate Head thought of me. I would be the first candidate put forward by the Faculty of Radiology since the inception of the program in 2015. I was made to send in my curriculum vitae by the end of the day as the deadline for submission of applications was fast approaching. I submitted my CV and promptly forgot all about it.On the 19th of April I received an email from the Rector of the College confirming my nomination as one of the beneficiaries. The response from Dr. Elijah Paintsil was prompt and over the next 6 weeks the necessary arrangements for immigration documentation, visa application, travel and accommodation were made.

ARRIVALI arrived in the United States on the 10th of June 2018. The flight from Accra to JFK International Airport was uneventful. Arrangements were made for a car to meet me at the airport and bring me to New Haven. The driver was courteous and provided some history and background to the areas we came through on the way to New Haven. The accommodation provided was comfortable.

RECEPTIONThe first two days at Yale were utilised for orientation and obtaining appropriate IDs. I was introduced to my mentor Dr. Frank Minja, an



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associate professor of neuroimaging on the second day, and appropriate introductions were subsequently made to other faculty members. There were certain challenges within Musculoskeletal imaging that made it impractical for me to spend every day of the week within the department. The period is at the end of the academic year when final year residents and fellows are completing their programs and new fellows are being enrolled. The department of Musculoskeletal Imaging is also challenged because they were relatively understaffed. An arrangement was therefore made for my time to be split between

Musculoskeletal Imaging and at Neuroimaging with my mentor Dr. Frank Minja.The days are mostly spent in the Reading Rooms observing image read outs with the attendings and fellows. I am also able to observe procedures such as image-guided lumbar punctures, biopsies and joint infiltrations and aspirations.Some other learning opportunities include weekly Grand Rounds

lectures, daily resident lectures, tumour board meetings and weekly Orthopaedic/MSK radiology meetings.There are Yale Partnerships for Global Health faculty seminars every Wednesday at noon where mentors share their career stories with the group and discuss the work that they do.We have also been privileged to receive instruction from Dr. Elijah Paintsil on Scientific Instruction and Communication every evening beginning from the past week.



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REGIONAL OR CHAPTER NEWS CAROLINA CHAPTERThe Carolina chapter organized 5K run to raise funds on Saturday august 25th, 2018

Winners of Race

Winners of Race



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OHIO CHAPTEROhio chapter had a meeting on Saturday September 15, 2018

FLORIDAInitial meeting planned for Fall 2018

NEW YORKThe New York Chapter held its first meeting on Friday September 7th,

2018 at Harlem Tavern. This was well attended. Chapter leaders are Dr Stella Sarfo and Dr Boafo

Ghana Physicians and Surgeons Foundation o North Ameica ......care clinics in community healthcare,...

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