An inspiring story of doctors who changed the health care of an African nation Dr. Dilan Ellegala arrives in Tanzania, shocked to find the entire country has just three brain surgeons for its population of forty-two million. Haydom Lutheran Hospital lacks even the most basic surgical tools, not even a saw to open a patient’s skull. Here, people with head injuries or brain tumors heal on their own or die. When confronted with a villager suffering from a severe head trauma, Dilan buys a tree saw from a farmer, sterilizes it, and then uses it to save the man’s life. Yet Dilan realizes that there are far too many neurosurgery patients for one person to save, and of course he will soon be leaving Tanzania. He needs to teach someone his skills. He identifies a potential student in Emmanuel Mayegga, a stubborn assistant medical officer who grew up in a mud hut. Though Mayegga has no medical degree, Dilan sees that Mayegga has the dexterity, intelligence, and determination to do brain surgery. Over six months, he teaches Mayegga how to remove tumors and treat hydrocephalus. And then, perhaps more important, Dilan teaches Mayegga how to pass on his newfound skills. Mayegga teaches a second Tanzanian, who teaches a third. It’s a case of teach-a-man-to-fish meets brain surgery. As he guides these Tanzanians to do things they never thought possible, Dilan challenges the Western medical establishment to do more than send vacationing doctors on short-term medical missions. He discovers solutions that could transform health care for two billion people across the world. A Surgeon in the Village is the incredible and riveting account of one man’s push to “train-forward”—to change our approach to aid and medical training before more lives are needlessly lost. His story is a testament to the transformational power of teaching and the ever-present potential for change. As many as seventeen million people die every year because of a shortage of surgeons, more than die from AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. Dilan Ellegala and other visionaries are boldly proposing ways of saving lives.

Today he is known as Dr. Q, an internationally renowned neurosurgeon and neuroscientist who leads cutting-edge research to cure brain cancer. But not too long ago, he was Freddy, a nineteen-year-old undocumented migrant worker toiling in the tomato fields of central California. In this gripping memoir, Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa tells his amazing life story—from his impoverished childhood in the tiny village of Palaco, Mexico, to his harrowing border crossing and his transformation from illegal immigrant to American citizen and gifted student at the University of California at Berkeley and at Harvard Medical School. Packed with adventure and adversity—including a few terrifying brushes with death—Becoming Dr. Q is a testament to persistence, hard work, the power of hope and imagination, and the pursuit of excellence. It’s also a story about the importance of family, of mentors, and of giving people a chance.

Mental prowess, for sure, can push any man to go a long way; take it along with sheer inner motivation, bush-and-street survival instinct, a lot of wit and charm, and a dose of encompassing humanity and you have a foolproof formula for success in any endeavor. The Life of a Village Child: An Autobiography of a Medical Doctor, by Francis Saa-Gandi, is one such tale, making life in Sierra Leone leap off the pages with the blood and veins of the people who inhabit this country, while chronicling the story of the author who went through life by the grace of people outside of his own immediate family. From the humble abodes of Sierra Leone, to the strict regimens of the schools and their unique administrators, Francis paints a picture that strikingly takes life at face value, making the best of it, making even a name for himself in his chosen field.

"This book was previously published in 2004 under the title The apprenticeship of Doctor Laverty, by Insomniac Press, Toronto"--T.p. verso.

Morris A. Robbins, M.D. tells a compelling story of overcoming seemingly impossible odds. He begins with a delightful look at his past in rural New Jersey. Ready to embark on his college education, he suffers a near-fatal accident that leaves him permanently maimed. With grit, determination, and ingenuity, he persists in following his dream of becoming a surgeon. During a 50-year medical career, Doc touched countless lives with his skill and inspiring example. His unassuming recollections are supported with additional material curated by his daughter Dorothy Robbins Talavera, including documentation from files, correspondence, news clippings, family photos and first-hand comments from people who knew him. This honest, but uplifting account is bound to be helpful to a wide-ranging audience of readers.