Summer 2009 Volunteers
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, Shirley & 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. 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. 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 & 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. 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 & 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 was a fourth year medical student who has since started her residency. She spent a month with us in April. (She has requested that her picture be removed from the site)
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.