Few have heard of Oterkpolu, Ghana, but for John Acquaye-Awah, MD, CCD, it was home. He was born in the tiny village and grew up immersed in its traditions and superstitions.
There were very few health care choices available, and Acquaye-Awah recounts how frequently death shook the small community. Then tragedy touched his own family.
Acquaye-Awah's brother was stricken with polio, and many believed he would never walk again. His family consulted a spiritualist, but nothing happened. Only when Acquaye-Awah's brother was finally admitted to a hospital did he get the help he needed. Acquaye-Awah witnessed the unforgettable joy on his brother's face when he took his first step-and he knew he wanted to help others feel that same joy.
This was one of many instances that sparked Acquaye-Awah's fascination with science. In this spellbinding memoir, he tells the amazing story of how he left Oterkpolu and pursued a rigorous medical education.
But even as he was traveling and studying, Acquaye-Awah never forgot the important lessons he learned in Oterkpolu-nor the debt he owed his community. The American Doctor chronicles his triumphant homecoming and his new mission to bring health care to the most remote of locations.
About the Author: John Acquaye-Awah, MD, CCD, graduated from the University of Ghana Medical School and the Royal College of Physicians in the United Kingdom. He was board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Acquaye-Awah has served as a faculty member at the University Hospital in Cardiff, Wales; Michael Reese Hospital, Chicago; Illinois Masonic Hospital, Chicago; and Mount Sinai Hospital, Chicago. He currently works as president, CEO, and attending physician at Dr. John Awah and Associates in Chicago, Illinois.
In addition to his medical and business careers, Acquaye-Awah is also deeply involved in philanthropic efforts. He has helped establish free health care for impoverished communities in the Philippines and Ghana.
In his spare time, Acquaye-Awah enjoys traveling, golfing, and indulging his entrepreneurial ambitions.
