Out of Assa: Heart of the Congo, Medical Adventures in Central Africa

by Glenn W. Geelhoed

The author, a surgeon, recounts his experiences of medical volunteerism in providing medical services to a remote village in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He reveals what it takes to practice... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0966930509
• ISBN13: 9780966930504
• Release Date: April 2000
• Publisher: Three Hawks Publishing
• Length: 346 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Out of Assa is wroth several detours

What follows is an excerpt from a letter received by Kurt E. Johnson, President and Publisher, Three Hawks Publishing LC, from Professor Harrison. "Glenn Geelhoed makes his characters real because they are real. Through leaps and contortions not required of many he listens to their concerns in remote Congo with no condescension whatsoever. Their medical needs are colossal and, in fact, unmet. Glenn tells us not to ignore the neglected-the inner message is that some day, change and hope will enter the scarred world of the Azandis in Congo. The chapter "Life and Death" brings together the meaning of life and the dignity of death in this African culture with moving stories of family life under trying conditions, and all of them true. The blessing of President Trachtenburg of George Washington University appears on the back cover."Timothy S. Harrison, MD Professor Emeritus, Surgery and Physiology, Penn State Medical School- Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Hershey PA 17033

Into the Heart of Africa

I found this book very informative and fun to read. I met Dr. Geelhoed in Africa and was amazed at his knowledge of the continent. This book is basically his diary of a summer in a remote part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo followed by a little side trip through Zimbabwe and Zambia. There is some repetition, but this might be expected given the difficulties of writing the book while trying to splice electric lines together. This is amply explained by Dr. Geelhoed. I would have appreciated perhaps more detail of the medical work in Assa and less about the running adventures, but Dr. Geelhoed is basically an explorer. He is willing to take us along with him as he visits out of the way places, meets the people living there, and enters their world. He is willing to use his skills to help, but is always sensitive to the local culture. The political situation was dangerous during his time in the village of Assa. Information about fighting and death are hard to get from the local people, but little by little we learn of their suffering. Dr. Geelhoed's humanity and concern for others comes through clearly. His visit to the David Livingstone Memorial in Chitambo is a moving experience. I feel anyone who has an interest in Africa, or even anyone with a desire to experience a bit of the Congo in the comfort of their own home, will find this book a very informative and enjoyable reading experience.

A great hands-on read for aspiring Osteopathic Physicians

Dr Glenn W. Geelhoed M.D. has shown in this book that the real treasures in life are available in the life of learning the unknown itself. In sharing his medical experience of Assa, a Congolese village in central Africa, he reveals what life's adventure is all about- a healing experience of the highest inspiration for all who wish to embrace the transforming power of giving one's self, heart and mind for the right cause, and the wealth of nourishment in learning from and with the poor, the destitute, and the neglected. As a future physician from an African village that is almost non-existent, I can only thankfully, applaud Glenn W. Geelhoed M.D for sharing his amazing adventures and truly, magnifying for the global medical community, the eloquent evidence of a physician's compassion and service of the under-priveledged. When each one of us thoroughly examines our respective lives, it becomes clear that in one way or another, we are just like the Assa people, faced with countless battles and fears in every corner of our modern hazardous lives and lifestyles: living as POWs of the American dream; MIAs of common sense and environmental/spiritual sensitivity; dealing with the "33 flavored icecream" stress package in the daily plight of maintaining balance in an unpredictable world of ever-approaching death; inevitable taxation of mind and body from oldage; protecting our "modern" minds from the deadly persuasions of popular media and chronic restlessness; and the internal ravaging war to reclaim the vast soil of our eroded peace of mind. This book shows the conscientious, reflective reader that the real adventures are available in accepting what life truly offers to us even in the most wretched, "beyond the creature comfort zone" conditions. I highly recommend this book to all true lovers of real adventure and real concern for the welfare of our neighbors. This book truly illumines the mental zipcode of the enzymes of one's organic imagination to wake up and LIVE a life of adventure in giving and serving others, of life, of learning, of learning to live life. Eventhough, my interest is in Osteopathic medicine, Dr. Geelhoed shows in his book, that the hidden dimensions of truly getting to know your patients is only revealed in treating and actively working with the patients. My appreciation and admiration of Dr. Geelhoed's work only goes to show that he is in practice osteopathic and undilutedly wholistic in practice. It is an attribute of osteopathic philosophy to "be there" with the patient and not on the HMO "been there, done that" clock-time approach. "Out of Assa: Heart of the Congo" is truly a hands-on experience of an M.D. whose "osteopathic" adventure is itself a celebration of the triumphant spirit of a destitute people's power of adaptation in extreme conditions and self-empowerment in the midst of unimaginable odds. There are no substitutes for the destitute other than in the vicissitudes of daily lif