PARTICIPATION IN AN INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL-PRACTICE IN WEST-AFRICA

The author reflects on his personal experiences in West Africa to expr ess the benefits of participation in international medical practice in developing countries. Health care systems, medical emphases, and surg ical techniques useful in the United States may be inspired by attempt s to manage the extreme problems seen in developing countries. Attitud inal changes that result from international work may be helpful to US physicians and their patients, in the current era of health care. Thes e include the qualities of humility, gratitude, pragmatism, and simpli city. A refined consciousness of the needs of underserved women is una voidable. (C) 1998 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gyneco logists.).