Christmas in Orlando with the family was a joyous time. Our daughter Kim got married to Dan Shier in our home by Dr. O. Charles Horton December 27. It was a special occasion and the parties greeting old friends and catching up was a great time.
Monty Jacobs and Abel Biri from Florida Hospital came in mid-January. Florida Hospital has 2 clinics here and volunteer groups from Florida come for short-term assistance. We are working on some longer-term educational relationships with MCM. Monty and Abel are good friends, and it is always a pleasure to fellowship with them and exchange ideas.
Photos below: left, L to R: Abel Biri, Dr. Chang, Dr. Kim, Monty Jacobs, Don, and Barbara; right: Dr. Kim showing the ICU to Abel and Monty, with Dr. Chang.
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Neal P. Christianson, Assistant Professor, medical oncologist from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, visited us in January.
February: Barbara and I left for the States on February 2nd. Barb stayed in Orlando, while I went to San Francisco for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons meeting. My friend and colleague Chad Price was the Chairman of the meeting. Reportedly there were 20,000 orthopods and ancillary folks attending. It was like a circus there, so much going on. I got my CME credits and thus completed the chore of renewing my Florida license and staff privileges at the hospitals. In addition, Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO) has accredited MCM and Black Lion sites. I spent time with Kate Fincham from HVO, who introduced me to many supportive orthopods. Harry Jergesen, M.D., co-Director of the Institue for Global Orthopaedics and Traumatology, took me on a tour of the facility in San Francisco. Harry has been on the staff of the University of California San Francisco for many years and now, along with Richard Gosselin, M.D. and Rick Coughlin, M.D., have developed this state of the art facility for training and teaching.
Germaine Fritz, D.O. came February 18. This is her second trip here. Of course we had abundant supply of hand cases, and we shared her with Black Lion residents. Germaine is a talented hand surgeon, a confident and talented trauma surgeon. She has a unsurpassed ability to teach. She is a humble, kind, and brilliant teacher. My colleagues, the residents, the staff hold her in the highest regard. Everybody loves Germaine!
Photos below: top left: Teklin and Germaine Fritz; top right: Germaine with ortho residents; bottom left: Germaine and Dr. Wendu; bottom right: Germaine making rounds with the ortho team.
John Podgore, Professor of Pediatrics and Director of International Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center was here for some meetings.
Next month we will welcome a pediatric orthopaedist and then spine surgeons, trauma surgeons and cancer surgeon, and manufacturer reps., the CEO of Florida Hospital and many other visitors to MCM.
Currently it is dry and the weather is very pleasant. The short rains should start soon, which will help with the dust. The medical school and the church are getting the finishing touches and are really spectacular. The first med school class will begin in September. The administration is doing double time preparing for the opening and staffing.
The Pearson Siblings: Heidi, Amy, Jeff, and Kim
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We returned to Ethiopia, January 10th and Kim and Dan came over January 25 for a week's visit and then off to Tanzania for safari. We had fun introducing them to our friends and vice versa. They loved it here as well as Tanzania. Their catering business in Orlando is growing and keeps them busy, but I think they will be back.
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Mary Decoster MPH from North Carolina, was here for Food for
the Hungry program. Mary is a good friend of Jeanne Blackburn, a dear
friend for many years, who encouraged her to touch base with us while
here. As a result Mary joined us for festivities for the newly weds,
and we made a delightful new friend who is doing some good work in
Ethiopia. Shown here is a reception at Top View and Mary with Firku at the reception.
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Monty Jacobs and Abel Biri from Florida Hospital came in mid-January. Florida Hospital has 2 clinics here and volunteer groups from Florida come for short-term assistance. We are working on some longer-term educational relationships with MCM. Monty and Abel are good friends, and it is always a pleasure to fellowship with them and exchange ideas.
Photos below: left, L to R: Abel Biri, Dr. Chang, Dr. Kim, Monty Jacobs, Don, and Barbara; right: Dr. Kim showing the ICU to Abel and Monty, with Dr. Chang.
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Neal P. Christianson, Assistant Professor, medical oncologist from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, visited us in January.
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Rob Nash and his wife Guyeth spent several hours with us. Rob is the Director for Global Missions for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship headquartered in Atlanta.
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February: Barbara and I left for the States on February 2nd. Barb stayed in Orlando, while I went to San Francisco for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons meeting. My friend and colleague Chad Price was the Chairman of the meeting. Reportedly there were 20,000 orthopods and ancillary folks attending. It was like a circus there, so much going on. I got my CME credits and thus completed the chore of renewing my Florida license and staff privileges at the hospitals. In addition, Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO) has accredited MCM and Black Lion sites. I spent time with Kate Fincham from HVO, who introduced me to many supportive orthopods. Harry Jergesen, M.D., co-Director of the Institue for Global Orthopaedics and Traumatology, took me on a tour of the facility in San Francisco. Harry has been on the staff of the University of California San Francisco for many years and now, along with Richard Gosselin, M.D. and Rick Coughlin, M.D., have developed this state of the art facility for training and teaching.
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Linvatek/ConMed has graciously provided power equipment. It was sent to us in Orlando, so beautifully packed. I spent several days repacking it to get it on the airlines and possibly through customs without problems. Danielle Ruiz coordinated the process and got the papers for customs. However, they took it, and after more than two weeks, we finally got the equipment in good shape. Our old equipment is falling apart, and this is a marvelous improvement.
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Germaine Fritz, D.O. came February 18. This is her second trip here. Of course we had abundant supply of hand cases, and we shared her with Black Lion residents. Germaine is a talented hand surgeon, a confident and talented trauma surgeon. She has a unsurpassed ability to teach. She is a humble, kind, and brilliant teacher. My colleagues, the residents, the staff hold her in the highest regard. Everybody loves Germaine!
Photos below: top left: Teklin and Germaine Fritz; top right: Germaine with ortho residents; bottom left: Germaine and Dr. Wendu; bottom right: Germaine making rounds with the ortho team.
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John Podgore, Professor of Pediatrics and Director of International Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center was here for some meetings.
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Dick and Jan Koning vascular surgeons (Dick from University of Oregon and Jan from Delf, Netherlands) spent several weeks with us and operated on many vascular cases. They come regularly and make a big contribution to MCM. Dick brought Ann Witsa, Anna Koning, and Casey Husk from his foundation Reach Another. They were a delight and young folks making a difference.
Jan Koning (2nd from left) and brother Dick, at head of table, with group from Portland, Oregon.
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Kyle Coker, M.D. hand surgeon from San Diego, was here for a short visit and plans on returning for an official visit.
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Next month we will welcome a pediatric orthopaedist and then spine surgeons, trauma surgeons and cancer surgeon, and manufacturer reps., the CEO of Florida Hospital and many other visitors to MCM.
Currently it is dry and the weather is very pleasant. The short rains should start soon, which will help with the dust. The medical school and the church are getting the finishing touches and are really spectacular. The first med school class will begin in September. The administration is doing double time preparing for the opening and staffing.
New church
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