A Family in Philadelphia Donated Medical Books to UoG
The Family of the late Professor Bekele Afessa donated more than 340 medical books to the University of Gondar. According to the society of critical care medicine, Dr. Afessa, born and raised in Ethiopia, earned his bachelor’s degree in physical science from the then Haile Selassie I University, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 1973. He received his medical degree from the University of Athens Medical School in Athens, Greece. His transitional program internship was served at Howard University in Washington D.C., from 1983 through 1984, after which he became a resident and chief resident in categorical medicine from 1985 to 1987. He began his fellowship in pulmonary medicine in 1988 before switching to the University of Maryland in Baltimore to start a fellowship in critical care medicine medical services systems (shock trauma). His final fellowship in critical care medicine was served in 1990 at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, where he worked and taught until his death. The above source indicated that Dr. Afessa was board certified in pulmonary disease, critical care and internal medicine. Additionally, he served in the United States Air Force at Scott AFB, Belleville, Illinois, from 1991 to 1994. Bekele Afessa, MD, a prominent clinician, educator and researcher, passed away on January 10, 2013, at the age of 57.
His family in Philadelphia, USA kindly donated the collections of the late Professor Bekele Afessa which count to more than 340 medical books and journals. The link with this generous family was made possible through the virtual introduction of the family and the University of Gondar management by Professor Pietro Toggia in the summer of 2013. Professor Pietro and his family managed to sort out the books, pack them and ship them to Washington DC to hand over to UoG delegation in November 2013.
Though most of the books and journals cover wider subjects of internal medicine, most of them are publications in the area of critical care and include scientific publications by Professor Bekele Afessa. The books will reach to more than 7000 undergraduate and postgraduate students and to more than 1000 faculty and health professionals in the College and at the University of Gondar referral hospital.
Contributed by Desalegne Mengesha, Academic Vice President of UoG and a Fulbright Scholar at the Ohio State University. December 21, 2013.
