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Cadets load up boxes of medical textbooks and journals into a U.S. Army Humvee during 9/06/07 press conference. |
Alumni Support Medicine in Afghanistan and Iraq through Medical Textbook and Journal Donations
UPDATE: June 27, 2008
After 14 months and over 6 tons of donated medical materials being sent to over a dozen U.S. physicians and nurses stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq, UCLA MAA Books without Borders (BWB) is honored to support Operation Medical Libraries in its efforts to collect and distribute current medical textbooks and journals through a partnership with American medical schools, hospitals, and physicians and the United States military for the purpose of fostering the creation of permanent medical libraries and supporting the expansion of existing collections in conflict regions where healthcare education and the practice of medicine are suffering.
Operation Medical Libraries will significantly enhance the initial and continuing medical education of healthcare professionals in communities crippled by the lack of materials. Through its support of everyday healthcare and academic medicine, Operation Medical Libraries will impact the long-term health and welfare of people and ultimately support the development of essential services and human rights in regions torn by conflict. For more information visit the OML Website or email Operation Medical Libraries.
A special salute to all of the Books without Borders supporters and participants. Your energies and efforts will be archived on this Website.
UPDATE: June 23, 2008
2,674 pounds of medical textbooks and journals were trucked from Miramar Marine Corps Base in San Diego to McGuire Airforce Base in New Jersey and airlifted to Aludeid Air Base, Qatar. From Aludeid shipments were airlifted to Kandahar and Bagram and trucked to the final delivery point.
UPDATE: May 14, 2008
UCLA sent 3,235 pounds of medical textbooks and journals to eight U.S. military bases throughout Afghanistan and Iraq. To date, over 6 tons of medical materials have been collected through Books without Borders and donated to Afghan and Iraqi medical schools and hospitals.
Project Description, History, Results, and Expansion
Books without Borders (BWB) is a project conceived and coordinated by the UCLA Medical Alumni Association after receiving an email from Laura Pacha, M.D. '98, a preventative medicine officer for the U.S. Army, regarding the lack of current medical materials for Iraqi physicians and medical students. The success of the project is due to the collaborative effort with the United States Army, the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, the Health Sciences Store, UCLA ARMY ROTC, and the Los Angeles City Fire Department. The donated medical materials are shipped to U.S. military base physicians, who hand deliver them to local medical facilities as part of their transition and training responsibilities.
"It is an innovative idea that resonates well with the United States, at a time when the image of the United States around the world is not as high as it once was."
~ Congressman Henry Waxman '61, J.D. '64, D-Los Angeles
Iraq 's medical system became very isolated during the last decade of Saddam Huessine's regime. Iraqi doctors are working very hard to restore the medical education system at all levels and in all fields, including ancillary services. The medical professionals are consistently grateful for donations of any medical textbooks or journals. Any materials published since 1994 are considered current in Iraq . While Iraq 's doctors would love to take greater advantage of all that is available on the Internet, the lack of electricity, slow access, and limited availability make it difficult for most students and doctors to access its resources.
English is the language of medicine in Iraq . Doctors read and the courses are taught in English. Nurses would need to know some English in order to better communicate with the doctors. It is interesting to note that paramedics and EMTs are somewhat of a new concept in Iraq .
In order to support the educational goals of the Iraqi medical system, the UCLA Medical Alumni Association (MAA) launched Books without Borders, which also provides textbooks needed to teach courses for nurses, laboratory technicians, EMTs, and others in ancillary fields. In addition, this project will allow practicing Iraqi physicians to update their knowledge and American physicians to review procedures.
"Diseases and injuries are not bound by borders and neither should excellent medical education or quality health care."
~ Valerie Walker, Director, UCLA Medical Alumni Association
First Phase Project Results
On September 6, 2007, the 2,000 medical textbooks and journals collected through Books without Borders were handed over to the United States Army at a press conference. Patrice Healey M.D., '84 and Christopher P. Talcott, Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army, Chair UCLA Department of Military Science shared with the media and guests the scope and significance Books without Borders will have on the medical education and health care in Iraq.
The 5,000 pounds of medical materials were shipped courtesy of the United States Army and reached its final destination on December 19, 2007. At the time, CPT Marcus Pecora, UCLA School of Nursing '02, was stationed in Tikrit, Iraq. He spearheaded the delivery of the donated materials. The "book missions" functioned like any military operation: materials were loaded into trailers that are hitched to tactical Humvees, and the convoy was protected by an armed security detail. Locations, like the nursing high school located in Tikrit's city center, carry a high level of danger. After his Iraqi tour of duty was complete, CPT Pecora returned to Los Angeles and assisted with the May 2008 BWB shipment.
"Health care is definitely lacking for the Iraqis, so anything we can do to help restore their abilities to secure those basic needs is key to their restoration efforts. "
~ MAJ Laura Pacha, M.D.'98, Department of Preventive Medicine Chief, US Army
Project Expansion Includes Naval & Air Force Bases and Afghan Community Outreach
According to the Kabul Medical Institute Presentation, there is a great need for medical and dental materials in Afghanistan. Books without Borders has expanded and now includes United States Naval bases in Afghanistan, as well as supporting the Camp Eggers Volunteer Community Relations (VCR) program in Kabul. Alumni and friends can send VCR donations directly to the APO address below.
Volunteer Community Relations
CSTC-A, Pool House
APO, AE 09356
If you have medical/nursing textbooks that you would like to mail directly to a military base physician, please email Operation Medical Libraries for a list of current recipients.
The U.S. Postal Service offers domestic rates for mailings sent to the military through military APO addresses. The best rate (approximately 50 cents per pound) is USPS media mail. Each box will need a Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note--CP 72. Click here for instructions on how to complete the form.
"My team of clinicians and I are attempting to improve Kabul Medical University. After assessing their current situation and meeting with the Chancellor, we have determined a sincere need for medical textbooks and periodicals, which will help the mission of producing future doctors of Afghanistan. "
~LCMR Bradford Volk, M.D., MC USN, Camp Eggers, Kabul, Afghanistan
Afghan and Iraqi Project Recipients
Through the efforts and energies of physicians and nurses representing all three U.S. Military Medical Corps, BWB donations have been distributed to classified and unclassified locations. Classified locations cannot be disclosed due to the fact that some of the towns still have prominent insurgent activity, and BWB wants to honor the military's desire to ensure that the local doctors are not retaliated against. The following unclassified medical facilities have received BWB donations.
345th Combat Support Hospital (Iraq-U.S. Army)
400 Bed Hospital of Herat (Afghanistan-U.S. Navy)
6th Annual Salah el Din Scientific Conference (Iraq-U.S. Army)
ANA Orthopedics (Afghanistan-U.S. Navy)
ANA Regional Hospital in Mazae Sharif (Afghanistan-U.S. Navy)
Balkh Medical School (Afghanistan-U.S. Navy)
Craig Joint Theatre Hospital (Afghanistan-U.S. Navy)
FOB Sykes (Iraq-U.S. Army)
Herat Regional Military Hospital (Afghanistan-U.S. Navy)
Kabul Medical University (Afghanistan-U.S. Navy)
Kabul Military Hospital (Afghanistan-U.S. Navy)
Kandahar Embedded Training Team (Afghanistan-U.S. Air Force) Kandahar Regional Military Hospital (Afghanistan-U.S. Air Force)
Mazae Sharif School of Medicine (Afghanistan-U.S. Navy)
Medical College of Herat (Afghanistan-U.S. Navy) Tikrit Teaching Hospital (Iraq-U.S. Army)
Tikrit School of Medicine (Iraq-U.S. Army)
Salah ad Din General Hospital (Iraq-U.S. Army)
Salah ad Din Nursing High School (Iraq-U.S. Army)
Salah ad Din Provincial Drug Warehouse (Iraq-U.S. Army)
Salah ad Din Provincial Health Directorate (Iraq-U.S. Army)
"I have been honored to carry the spirit and knowledge of the UCLA family to the land of Iraq. The doctors and nurses of Iraq share a great profession with our colleagues in the states, and like the Americans, want the best healthcare for their people. The Books without Borders program allows the gaps in the education system to begin to fill."
~CPT Marcus Roy Recora, R.N. '02, Healthcare Team Leader, Salah ad Din Provincial Reconstruction Team
Donate Medical and Dental Textbooks and Journals
Books without Borders is collecting medical and dental materials. Textbooks need to be new or gently used, contain current information, and published after 2001. Journals published from 2005 to present are being accepted. Donations are not tax deductible. For more information, contact Valerie Walker, Director of the MAA, at (310) 794-4025 or vwalker@support.ucla.edu
Program Partners
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Golden West College-School of Nursing
Roy Kim M.D.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Hand and Microvascular Surgery
San Francisco , California
David Marinoff, M.D. '79
High Risk Obstetrics
Berkeley, California
Providence St. Joseph Medical Center
University of California at Irvine
University of California at San Diego
West Hills Hospital & Medical Center
"I am very grateful to UCSD for supporting the Books without Borders project. Afghanistan is one of the world's most impoverished countries. The education of Afghan students is always hampered by a scarcity of resources. As such, the medical textbooks sent by Books Without Borders will be an invaluable asset to Afghan students and will enrich their medical education. I thank UCSD and all other schools and organizations that contributed to this book drive."
~Khaled Hosseini, M.D. author of Kite Runner and A Thousand Shining Suns
Become a Program Partner
If your association, medical school, or hospital is interested in adopting one of the medical institutions being rebuilt through the energies and efforts of the United States government, please contact Valerie Walker, Director of the MAA, at (310) 794-4025 or vwalker@support.ucla.edu
Program Donors
Elaine and David Deschere
James Monahan '78 BA Psychology
Paula and Roy Murphy
MAJ Laura Pacha M.D.'98
"My greatest satisfaction is knowing I've made a difference, and it's great to participate in this way."
~Dave Deschere, Books without Borders donor
If you are interested in helping to underwrite the shipping expenses, please contact Valerie Walker, Director of the MAA, at (310) 794-4025 or vwalker@support.ucla.edu
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