1994: Doctors On Call For Service, Inc. (DOCS) is founded by Dr. G. Paul Groen and Dr. Kasereka (Jo) Lusi.
1996: First Continuing Medical Education sessions are held in three different locations in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). DOCS’ Master’s Degree in Family Medicine Residency Program, credentialed through the Medical University of Southern Africa, begins.
1998: Civil war erupts in DR Congo, with particular impact on the eastern half of the country.
1999: To better facilitate the provision of continuing medical education in East Africa DOCS developed a centralized, hands-on medical education and training center in Goma, DR Congo.
2001: SANRU III in collaboration with the Protestant Church of Congo (ECC) and Interchurch Medical Assistance (I.M.A.) and with financial assistance from OFDA and USAID implemented a five- year, 25 million-dollar project to assist in the rebuilding of health zones in the DR Congo. DOCS was selected by SANRU to supervise the Goma Health Zone, comprised of eighteen health centers, two referral centers and one general hospital.
January 17, 2002: Volcanic eruption of Mount Nyiragongo destroyed a large portion of Goma as well as DOCS’ Learning Center in Goma. DOCS immediately erected tents to serve as temporary facilities and wards and provided essential medical care and medicines to the victims of the disaster. In February, DOCS began the task of rebuilding and procuring equipment to replace what was lost.
2002: The first issue of the Great Lakes Medical Journal was published by DOCS. Comprised of medical articles submitted by credentialed faculty from the U.S. and Democratic Republic of Congo, 500 copies were distributed free of charge to local physicians, institutions of higher learning, and key health officials in the Kivu provinces.
2003: Computer Lab and Internet Resource Center at DOCS’ Learning Center in Goma was completed. Thirteen computers are now available to DOCS’ resident physicians to facilitate their studies and research as well as allow them to communicate with physicians across the globe.
2003: Volunteer faculty staff, Drs. Caleb and Louise King, moved from Florence, South Carolina, U.S. to Shiyra, Rwanda to rebuild the Shiyra Hospital and implement DOCS’ Continuing Medical Education and Residency programs there.
2003: Peace accord is signed ending five year war in DR Congo.
2003: The first Continuing Medical Education seminars for nurses in DR Congo are held at DOCS’ Learning Center in Goma.
2003: Dr. Lutala Prosper, Director of DOCS’ Residency Program, became the first graduate of DOCS’ Residency program to receive his Master’s Degree in Family Medicine through the Medical University of Southern Africa.
2003: UNICEF partners with DOCS in Goma, DR Congo to provide treatment to women victims of the war who have been raped and suffer from Vesico Vaginal Fistulae (VVF).
2003: DOCS was one of four organizations instrumental in the creation of a Department of Family Medicine within the Department of Public Health School of Medicine at the University of Kisangani/Goma campus.
2004: DOCS’ resident physicians traveled to Kinshasa, DR Congo for objective testing by Medical Univeristy of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA). Four of the top six Family Medicine residents in DR Congo were from DOCS’ Residency Program.
2005: Surgical and clinical training team of nine spent two weeks at DOCS Learning Center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo teaching and training national physicians and nurses.