February 2008a

February 1, 2008

Fistula repairs and appendectomies are just two of the types of surgery performed by NALB board member Dr. Margaret Loewen on her recent one-month stay in Congo. A general surgery resident at Michigan State University/Grand Rapids Medical Education and Research Center, Margaret left her husband and two children behind in order to take an elective month in the country where she grew up, and where her father, Dr. Mel Loewen, served as Rector of UPC for several years. Margaret’s medical journey was supervised by Dr. Samuel Mampunza, Dean of UPC’s medical school. A highlight of her visit was interviewing six UPC medical students, she says. “I got a glimpse into their world of studies,” Margaret adds. “Their idealism and concerns for practical realities were so familiar to me, since medical students and resident physicians in the U.S. grapple with many of the same concerns. Their hopes and dreams often included obtaining specialized training in other countries since the extent of Congolese medical education concludes with the generalist residency, which will be the final portion of their eight-year program.”

Margaret also spent time with Dr. Noki, Medical School Administrator, who told her that of the 229 students who had completed the first year (preparatory) in October 2007, 192 were retained and five left to study in Europe. After the preparatory year, all will take three years to cover undergraduate course work and then three years of the graduate level medical school. Following this there is a residency requirement of 18 months at the rural hospitals to complete the training of the generalist practitioner.

“When asked how those of us from other countries can contribute,” Margaret states, “Dean Mampunza and Dr. Noki replied that assisting the efforts of the NALB is most helpful and very much needed.”