JAN-B-10
THE ARRANGEMETNS MADE FOR A VISITNG
PROFESSORSHIP
IN
GWG
>>> yared wondimkun <ywondimkun@yahoo.com> 01/25/04 04:58AM
>>>
To Professor Glenn W. Geelhoed!
Dr Emiru Hailu, a graduate of Gondar College of
Medical Sciences (GCMS), Gondar, Ethiopia has informed
the college that you are planning to visit GCMS on the
15th and 16th of February.
We are very much honored that you are coming to
establishment of continuing partnership between the
two medical schools and universities.
I will discuss about your visit with the head of
Department of Surgery, Dr. Mensur Osman, to draft
jointly a tentative programme for your two days stay
in
visit) so that we plan accordingly.
Hoping to see you soon in
Yared Wondmikun
Dean
GCMS
From: Glenn Geelhoed
To: Dr. Mensur Osman
Date: 1/26/04 4:08PM
Subject: Re: Gondar Visit
Thank you so very much for your letter!
I am very grateful for the arrangements that may at last make possible my visit to Gondar which has been hoped for for the past decade as the faculty was developing.
One of my advisees, Emiru Hailu, whom I had first met when giving a lecture about developing surgical support programs in developing areas of the world had come to visit and I had met with the Dean of Gondar with him. We discussed the future collaboration which has awaited until this point to come to the right time and place in both our institutions' further evolution!
At that time, a decade ago, I had arranged meetings with the Chairperson of Anthropology, Prof Alison Brooks who has had a good deal of experience in Ethiopia and she was encouraged to hear of my interest in the new medical faculty in development. I also arranged a meeting with the then Dean of our medical school‑‑ a key person in the right timing and the right place‑‑Dr. John (Skip) Williams. He has subsequently become not only the Vice President for Health Affairs of the University, but has also become the Provost of George Washington University. As part of these multiple portfolios, he has discussed with me the development of an African Center within our institution.
This accords with my interests, and I will attach some reference to my continuing activities as an Africanist in a subsequent email attachment. I have spent a good deal of my career in developing associations abroad, (see Home Page http://home.gwu.edu/~gwg ) and will attach a brief CV or biosketch to fill in some parts of my background. I had also forwarded through Emiru Hailu some parts that may be useful in the event that I can retrieve some slides and handout materials for any proposed lecture. I can also mail them to you if it is helpful and they might arrive in advance of my visit.
I had suggested to Emiru that he matriculate in our MPH program which he did successfully, and now he is in the Fairfax County Virginia Public health Department. He has continued to be a booster of the GMC and I spoke with a number of people about the current status and future prospects with the Ambassador at a reception at the Ethiopian Embassy here in Washington last year. I am delighted that all the strands in this weave are coming together to be loomed in this critical juncture!
I am an academic surgeon who has maintained a very general practice interest, since my main interest is in international development of health institutions and health care ( a new book will be coming out in this Spring entitled "Surgery and healing in the Developing World.") I have been active in trauma care, had been at the national Cancer institute where I did surgical oncology, and was chief of transplantation here at GWUMC during the quarter century of its development. My principle clinical interest now is in endocrine surgery, and that may be reflected in the topics chosen for review.
I will forward some of the email messages tah may have been relayed, but will also add some informatoin as handout materials by fax or post, if you prefer.
I have alwasy wanted to explore the Ethiopian highlnads and search through the gorges from Lake Tana for the Blue Nile, the flora, fauna and indigenous inhabitants! But that is one of the reasons I keep coming back to the African continent
I am looking forward very much to the visti and initating some ongonig support for your GMC new medical center programs!
Yours truly,
Glenn W. Geelhoed
>>> "Dr. Mensur Osman" <mensury@telecom.net.et> 01/26/04 02:51PM >>>
Dear Dr. Glen Geelhoed,
I would, at first, like like to introduce my self. I am Mensur Osman, a
general surgeon and chairman of the department of surgery at the Gondar
University College. I got a message from the Dean of the College today and
was informed about your plans to visit Gondar for a couple of days to talk
to the Dean and explore areas of possible cooperation.
The department of Surgery warmly welcomes the plan and is ready to discuss
on possible areas of cooperation with your institution. The Dean will also
talk to you on the aspect during your visit to Gondar. I understood that you
may also give a lecture in Surgery for which I will have to make some
arrangement but have no idea about your specialty. Would you please then
inform me about the topic you wish to lecture on and the materials you need
for that? I also request you to write for me if you need futher information
about my Department.
Finally, I would like to inform that the College will provide you with
accommodation in one of the hotels and transportation from and to the
college will be arranged. However, the three of your students coming with
you may have to stay in a modest guest house within the College compound.
Expecting your reply.
Mensur.