Baptist Medical Centre

This summer at BMC has been busy. As usual we have continued to have a number of volunteers. It has been interesting and fun to have people from different countries and different backgrounds. Each person has added to the character of BMC and each one has contributed to the ministry provided. Below are the vlounteers that have come to BMC during the past several months. They are listed in no particular order.

Amy Elrod

Amy is a family Nurse Practitioner who is currently at BMC. She came for four months and has been a big help.

Andy McGovern

Andy is a final year medical student from England. This is his second trip to work at BMC.

Bob and Anita Gillchrest

Anita is a Nurse Practitioner and Bob is a pastor in a church in California. They came and worked with us for several weeks.

Danielle Steenvoorden

Danielle is a final year Dutch medical student who spent two months with us. We enjoyed having her with us.

Deborah Buchli

Deborah is a Swiss medical student who spent about a month working with us.

Dr. Andy Norman

Dr. Norman returned to work with us for a short time. Dr. Norman is a former missionary and has been to Nalerigu several times. He is a gynecologist and enjoys doing VVF repairs when he comes.

Dr. Chuck Miller

Dr. Miller is a Pediatrician who comes to us through Samaritan’s Purse. He will soon be leaving BMC after two months. He has been a big help during our busy malaria season. He reported seeing 192 patients during a recent clinic.

Dr. David and Shirley Chupp and Hannah Chupp

Dr. Chupp is a pediatrician from Alabama. He and his wife Shirley and daughter Hannah came to work with us for a couple of weeks. It was the Chupp’s first trip to BMC but maybe not their last.

Dr. Erle Kirby and Debbie Klatt

Dr. Kirby returned to BMC this year and was a big help with surgery and in clinic. Dr. Kirby is a physician from Canada who has been coming to Ghana for several years. Debbie is a nurse practitioner who came with him on her first trip to BMC.

Dr. Matt and Megan Jones

Dr. Jones is a third year surgery resident who has been to BMC in the past. He has been a big help in the surgery department. Megan is learning Mampruli and is trying to get a library set up in town. They are presently in Nalerigu and hope to stay until sometime in December.

Dr. Pat Conarro , Ryan Conarro and Paul Woody

Dr. Conarro is a surgeon from Dahlonega, GA who made a return trip to Nalerigu. This year he was accompanied by his children, Kyle, Kelly and Ryan and his son-in-law, Paul Woody. They were in Nalerigu for only a short time, but we enjoyed having them and their help.

Dr. Paul Shumpert

Dr. Shumpert returned to BMC and as always was a big help. He and his wife Dr. Cindy Shumpert continue to big big supporters of BMC through the Faile Foundation. Dr. Paul works in the emergency room in Rome, GA.

Dr. Pranav Shetty

Dr. Shetty is a third year ER resident from California. He came for several weeks and was a great help in clinic and on rounds.

Dr. Ravi Morchi

Dr. Morchi is an ER physician from California who has been on a number of volunteer trips to other hospitals in Africa. this was his first trip to BMC. He spent most of his time in the OR trying to improve his surgery skills.

Dr. Steve and Melinda Emerson

Dr. Emerson is an OB/Gyn from Arkansas. This was his first mission trip and he worked very hard and was a big help. Melinda works with Pure Joy International. She brought craft supplies and worked with some of the women in the area.

Dr. Zsila Sadighi

Dr. Sadighi is a pediatric neurology fellow at UT Houston. She returned for a three week visit and was a big help teaching and seeing patients.

Drs. Justin and Sommer Parschuer and Dr. Gordon Laird

Dr. Gordon Laird, a general surgeon came with his daughter Sommer and her husband Justin. They were in Nalerigu only a short time but we appreciate the help Dr. Laird was able to provide by doing surgery for us.

Marshall Early

Marshall is a third year medical student who came with Dr. Laird.

Gayle Pageau

Gayle is a fourth year medical Student who also came with Dr. Laird.

Erin Potter

Erin is a graduate student in music therapy. she came with Vicki Barnes and her team. Erin helped in and around the hospital in various ways. We enjoyed having Erin with us for a few days.

James Coxon

James is a final year medical student from England who worked with us for about a month. He not only helped out in the hospital, but also helped repair our internet connection when we had problems.

Jodi Little

Jodi was a fourth year medical student who came with Dr. Sadighi for two weeks.

Rachel Golin

Rachel was a fourth year medical student who has since started her residency. She spent a month with us in April.

Rev. Harold Shoulders

Rev. Shoulders is a retired Navy chaplain. We enjoyed his visit with us as he worked with the hospital chaplains and shared with the missionary staff.

Tiffany Harms and Jenny Thompson

Tiffany and Jenny were both fourth year medical students. They did not come together but were both in Nalerigu during most of the month of July. They both did well and we enjoyed having them with us.

Tommy and Vicki Barnes

Tommy and Vicki came for a few days and we enjoyed their visit. Vicki has been working for a long time with the Ghana Bandage Project and she was with us shortly after our latest container of supplies arrived (see earlier post). Tommy spent time with Tommy Harrison in the villages.

Yaar Levi and Hadassah Troen

Yaar and Hadassah are Jewish medical students who spent a month with us. We were able to learn from them and it was a pleasure to have them with us. They did well adapting to American and Ghanaian culture.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the character and ministry of Baptist Medical Centre this summer. We wish each of you the very best and hope to see at least some if not all of you back some day.

Ms. Amy Pennington

Amy Pennington is a final year pharmacy student who came and worked with us for several weeks. We enjoyed having her and wish her all the best as she begins her residency at Vanderbilt University.

Dr. Alan Heins and Kaye

Dr. Alan Heins and his wife Kaye spent several weeks with us. This was a return trip for them and we appreciate their continued interest and support. Alan is a family practitioner and Kaye is a Family Nurse Practitioner so they both worked in clinic and made rounds as well as helping with minor procedures.

Dr. Dewey Dunn and Dr. Roy Renfro

Dr. Dewey Dunn and Dr. Roy Renfro also returned to work with us for several weeks. As usual it was a pleasure to have them and we appreciated their help and support. Dr. Dunn is a gastroenterologist and Dr. Renfro is a retired surgeon. They both worked very hard and were a big help. Dr. Renfro celebrated his 79th birthday while here!

Dr. Fred Rushton, Dr. Robert Battle, Debbie Battle, William Cauthen, Jessica Gullung, and Taylor Byrd

Dr. Fred Rushton, a surgeon from Jackson, MS and Dr. Robert Battle, an anesthesiologist from Jackson returned for another visit. They came with Will Cauthen and Jessica Gullung, fourth year medical students and Taylor Byrd, a fourth year college student. Robert’s wife Debbie also came and cooked for the team. They all worked hard and did a lot for us during their time here.

Dr. Jennifer Neuman

Dr. Neuman is a third year family medicine resident. She spent several weeks with us and was a lot of help in clinic, making rounds and taking call. We don’t know how much help we were to her in preparing to go to Alaska after residency, but hope she learned some things that will be useful wherever she goes.

Dr. Kristiana Kaufman

Dr. Kaufman is a fourth year emergency medicine resident from Cincinnati, OH. She worked hard and did a lot for us. We certainly appreciated her help and interest. She helped with call, seeing patients in clinic and doing minor procedures and ultrasounds. We wish her all the best wherever she goes next year when she finishes her training.

Jeff and Jean Ingram, Susan Lee and Cynthia Munisteri

Jeff Ingram and his wife Jean came with Susan Lee and Cynthia came for a week. Jeff is an associate pastor at First Baptist Church, Fairhope, AL. They visited patients and worked with the chaplains in the hospital. They also visited churches in the surrounding villages with Tommy Harrison. We enjoyed having them and appreciate their contribution to our ministry here.

Micah Flint, James Perry, Rick Friesen and Lawrence Lawerty

Micah Flint from INMED came with James Perry, Rick Friesen and Lawrence Lawerty from Abundant Life Baptist Church, Lee’s Summit MO. Many of our volunteers, medical students and residents come through INMED and Micah came to see what we are doing and what it is like at BMC. His wife Jennifer came to work with us several years ago as a medical student. Rick Friesen is the executive pastor of Abundant Life Baptist Church and James Perry is the Missions Chairman. They have expressed some interest in helping to support BMC and wanted to see for themselves what we are doingand what our needs are. Lawrence is a college student whose parents are Ghanaian. We enjoyed getting tomeet every one and are excited about the possibilities of working together in the future. Of course we look forward to more excellent help from INMED students. Thanks to all of you for your interest and support.

We have had quite a lot of volunteers since we last posted, so here is an update on volunteers since last time. These are those who finished out 2008 and started 2009. Unfortunately, I do not have pictures of everyone, but am working on getting those and will add later when available.

Dr. Sam Gillis

Dr. Gillis came to help out again when he was very much needed. He stayed for a couple of months and did a lot of surgery during that time. He also got very sick and we are glad that he survived his stay.

Drs. Paul and Cindy Shumpert

Dr. Paul and Dr. Cindy Shumpert came to help out again. They have continued to support BMC not only by coming to volunteer, but by helping with getting supplies and equipment and overseeing the Faile Foundation. It is always a joyto have them come. They were here together for part of the time.

Dr. April Anderson

Dr. April Anderson is an ER resident. She was with us for several weeks and we appreciate her help and support.

Dr. Jim Howard

Dr. Jim Howard is an ER physician from Texas. He has been to Ghana a number of times with a team from his church, but this was his first trip to BMC. We hope that it will not be his last. He was a big help.

Dr. Fuller Robinson and Claire

Dr. Fuller Robinson is a dentist who has been coming to volunteer at BMC every year since 1982. This time he brought one of his grandchildren with him. It is always a pleasure to have Fuller with us and we always look forward to his visit each year. It was nice to get to know Claire a little.

Dr. Wim and Rita Sneller

Dr. Sneller is a urologist from the Netherlands. This was his sixth visit to BMC and the first time he brought his wife with him. Dr. Sneller was help to help us with some of our urological problems and did several VVF repairs.

Jay and Mary Brittain Blankenship

Jay and Mary Brittain are 4th year medical students. They did a good job and we enjoyed having them with us for several weeks. Jay is planning to go into emergency medicine and Mary Brittain is planning on doing internal medicine.

Dr. Nima Mitorabi and Dr. Meera Jayarajan

Nima and Meera are Canadian Family Practice residents. They spent several weeks with us and were a pleasure to have working here. They heard about BMC from Dr. Erle Kirby who has been here several times in the past.

Tim Manzo

Tim is a fourth year medical student who is with us for almost two months. He is doing a good job and we are enjoying having him here.  We appreciate his help.

Others who have been here in the past few months are Dr. Bertha Velandia, Dr. Bill Lee and his wife Janice, Kristen Thornton, Sarah Cooper and Scott Miller. Dr. Velandia is a Family Practice resident, Dr. Lee is a practicing physician from the US. Kristen and sarah are fourth year medical students and Scott Miller is a final year pharmacy student. I hope we will be able to add pictures of them soon.

Medical volunteers help sustain Baptist Medical Centre
By Emily Peters

Photos by William Haun

NALERIGU, Ghana (BP)  — Villagers line up outside the Baptist Medical Centre in northern Ghana as soon as the sun peeks over the mountains of this mud-hut town.

A baby sweating with malaria fever. A woman with a cough that could be tuberculosis. A farmer bitten by a cobra in the fields. Hypertension, hernias, tumors — just a few of the ailments among the 600 patients waiting on the outpatient porch.

“Looks like it’s going to be another long day,” says missionary doctor George Faile III, one of only two doctors on staff at the hospital, which was founded 50 years ago by the International Mission Board.

The hospital could sure use more hands to help cover the patient load, says Faile. (more…)

During the past few months we have had a number of volunteers who have continued to provide good help and support. Below are the most recent visitors, some of whom are still with us.

Dr. and Mrs. Doug Parkin

Dr. Doug Parkin is a pediatrician from Arizona who has been to Nalerigu several times. He and his wife came again and it was a pleasure to have them work with us. Dr. Parkin was a big help in clinic and on the wards seeing many of the children who are so sick at this time of year.

Dr. and Mrs. Bill Prine, Rev. Bill Graham, Gayle Mulberry, Mike and Sandy Provine, Justine Howe and Jonathan Bradley

Another pediatrician who worked with us for the first time was Dr. Bill Prine. Dr. Prine and his wife came with a team from First Baptist Church, Clarkseville, TN. The other members of the team spent time in nearby villages and in some of the schools.

Dr. Charles Barrier and Holly

Dr. Charles Barrier came for his second time and brought his daughter with him. He is a gastroenterologist and his daughter is a pharmacy student. Dr. Barrier did a lot of upper endoscopies for us and was a big help in the clinic.

Dr. Erle Kirby, Chris Kirby and Gabriel Fortin

Dr. Erle Kirby, a surgeon from Canada came again and was a big help during our 50th anniversary celebration. He brought two Canadian medical students with him. Chris Kirby, his son and Gabriel Fortin. maybe they will come back later when they are further along in their training.

Dr. Warren Cooper

Dr. Warren Cooper was at the hospital for only a few days, but he came at a good time. He is a general surgeon who works with Samaritans Purse. He was able to help us with a number of difficult and unusual surgical cases. We are hoping that we will see more help from Samaritans Purse in the future.

Dr. Cynthia Schandorf and Dr. Michelle Wilkening

Dr. Cynthia Schandorf and Dr. Michelle Wilkening spent several weeks with us. Cynthia is a pediatric resident and Michelle is a family practice resident. They worked together and were abig help with clinic, call and making rounds. We wish them all the best as they finish their training and begin their careers.

Dr. Ken Kelley

Dr. Ken Kelly is an ER resident who came and worked with us for several weeks. He is in the same program as Dr. Colleen Crowe who came earlier in the year.

Dr. Femke Veldman

Dr. Femke Veldman recently graduated from medical school in Holland. She came to work with us in August and will be leaving in December. She has been working hard and has been a big help. Her father came for a short time and helped her celebrate her birthday while she was there. She will return to Holland to do the equivalent of internship/residency. We enjoyed having her with us and wish her all the best as she continues her training.

Below are the students who came and worked with us during the past few months. Daniel Dukarevich is from Israel and Sarah Thornton is from England. They contributed to the international flavor of our community. Eleasa Teng and Pamela Choi will soon be looking for residency positions and we wish them all the best as they seek God’s leadership for their future.

William Haun returned to help document the events surrounding our 50th Anniversary celebration. As before, he took a lot of very nice picture which can be seen on this site and at the Hauns in Africa site. Thanks!, William for your help and support. And thanks to Heidi for allowing you to come again.

I am a little late posting this group of volunteers. We had a variety of people with us this summer and enjoyed the time they were here.

Annelie and Miriam were two medical students from Sweden. They not only had to adjust to tropical medicine, but also to American peculiarities and customs. They did well and it was a pleasure to have them with us.

Dr. Andy Norman is an Ob/Gyn from Vanderbilt Medical School. He had been a missionary in Nigeria for many years and was in Nalerigu as a medical student years ago. It was nice to see him again.

Dr. Donnie Crawford and his wife Beth and son Jacob spent a short time with us. Dr. Crawford has been here before and it was nice to have him back. Andy Ready came with them as a medical student.

Dr. Heather Till Patton is a family practice resident. She came with her mother Ada Till. This was their first visit with us. Ada did some teaching at the local high school.

Drs. Vince Waite, Dot Pliskin and Sheila Morehouse came to provide coverage while the career staff went to a meeting in Ivory Coast. They were assisted by Dr. John Raser, a family practice resident and Julie Legere an OR nurse. Sheila’s daughter Claire came along also.

Dr. Kate Celauro is an Ob/Gyn resident who spent several weeks with us. She was a big help in dealing with the many OB and gyn cases we see.

Dr. Lynn Coppola is another Ob/Gyn who came with her husband Mark and two beautiful daughters, Sara Grace and Elizabeth. Mark worked with the chaplains while he was here.

Ellen Vaughn, Nancy Kalutz, Joyce Dixon, Shirley Holloman and Patsy Waters are a group of ladies from South Carolina who came and did Bible school in the town. They had huge crowds of children to deal with, but did well. Patsy was here for the second time.

Emilie Sunde came with the Copollas to see what medical missions is all about. We enjoyed having her here.

Gene Covington is a pharmacist who used to be in Nalerigu as a career missionary. He was the leader of the group with Vince Waite and the others. Dr. Teresa Clark Fowler was also in the group. She is an internist in Atlanta. She and her husband Mike and daughter Elizabeth came with her. Elizabeth was sick the last few days she was here.

Janie Hemphill is a medical student from UMKC. She worked hard and was a big help during her time here.

Julie Myhren is a pharmacy student who came and worked in the pharmacy. She did a good job of cleaning out and organizing the pharmacy storeroom.

Oli Simpson and Andy McGovern came from England for a few weeks. Oli has recently finished his medical school training and was here for the second time. Andy is still in medical school.

We were blessed to have a lot of people come our way in May. There was quite a variety of people and they each added something unique to the place.

Dr. Sam Gillis is a retired surgeon from Birmingham, Alabama. This was his second visit with us and he was a tremendous help. He was here for about a month and did nearly 100 cases.

Dr. Erle Kirby, a general surgeon from Canada, also made his second trip to BMC and worked with Dr. Gillis for a couple of weeks. He has been coming to Ghana to help in a clinic in Tamale for several years and just last year came to work with us here. We are glad he did and hope he can come again.

Tanna Donalson is a PA student from Oklahoma. She came with her husband, Shane and some of their friends, Elisabeth Diefenderfer, Jennifer Dierksen and Micael Latshaw. Her friends stayed for only about a week, but Tanna stayed on and worked with us for about a month. She also brought a lot of supplies and drugs made possible by a grant from the PA Foundation.

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During April we had a large number of very helpful volunteers. They came as students, residents and as retired or practicing physicians.

Kathryn Hunt is a fourth year medical student from Florida. She will be graduating soon and going to Washington state for Family Practice residency. We hope some of the things she experienced and learned at BMC will be helpful as she starts residency.

Elizabeth Kunkel is also a fourth year student who will be starting her internal medicine residency. She is from New Jersey. You can check out her blog at www.elizabethghana.blogspot.com.

We also had a group from West Virginia University, four students and two faculty supervisors. Check out their blog to learn more about each of them and what they experienced. Dr. Sarah Moerschel arrived first with Mary Ann Kroll, Kevara Vaughn and Tracey Melham. Dr. Moerschell left and was replaced by Dr. Shelley Nuss and Rebecca Reece. We hope this will just be the first of other teams from WVU to come and work with us.

Dr. Dewey Dunn and Dr. Roy Renfroe returned again to work with us. They were joined on this trip by Ginger Hiley, a nurse. All of them were a big help. Dr. Dunn enjoyed having students and residents to teach and talk with with. Dr. Renfroe helped by doing a lot of surgery for us. Ginger helped the doctors and did some cleaning and organizing in the OR.

Dr. Brendan Reagan and Dr. George Sun are internal medicine residents who came and worked with us for about a week. Both are going to be doing fellowships when they finish residency. They were joined in Nalerigu by George’s brother Jerry who is a PA.

Christy Lee is a fourth year student from South Carolina. She had been in Nalerigu a couple of years ago so was not new to BMC. She will also be graduating soon and starting an OB/Gyn residency in July.

We thank all of those who came and all who supported them. We enjoyed getting to know everyone and appreciated their help and encouragement.