Joe O'Donnell (Photo courtesy Joe O'Donnell)
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Joe
O'Donnell, senior advising dean at Dartmouth Medical School, recently
returned from Egypt where he joined other U.S. physicians to consult on
graduate medical education programs in cancer. O'Donnell was a member of an
8-person team invited by the National Cancer
Institute of Egypt (Cairo) to visit major medical and educational
facilities in Egypt to advise on developing educational programs for
prevention, treatment, and palliative care of cancer.
As death rates from infectious disease decline in less-developed countries,
cancer care becomes a more critical issue. "The trip was a fascinating
immersion into the culture of Egypt and the formation of physicians there. We
found that our hosts, especially the dean and vice-dean of the NCI-Egypt were
visionary leaders wanting to change their current system and lay a plan for the
future," says O'Donnell.
"We traveled down the Nile from Luxor to Aswan, visiting many temples
with figures on the walls portraying ancient Egyptian medicine. They depicted
modern ideas about prevention, hygiene, and the role of the body and soul in
health. Their medicine built the foundation for the Greek and Roman
contributions we know so much more about. The current Egyptian leaders are
creating plans for all to emulate. I was impressed with their passion, vision,
and willingness to deploy resources to reach their goals."
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