Since ten years spent in Nigeria in the early '70's my interest in Africa has never waned. While I worked as a missionary physician I was concerned about the level of education available for African national physicians. In 1994 when I met Dr. Jo Lusi it was evident that we shared the same dream.  He accepted the position as African Director for DOCS.

Dr. Lusi was born in eastern Congo, trained in Europe and then took a step that is to be admired. He returned to his home country and worked at a mission hospital, becoming the medical director. At the same time that "mission hospitals" were becoming nationalized, Jo trained others around him and turned the work over to them. He and his wife dreamed about how to provide training in country for the many who did not have the opportunity for foreign education that he had received.

Dr. Lusi has lived through some very difficult circumstances including refugee problems, the tribally- inspired massacre on the Rwanda and Burundi border and the devastating Mt. Nyiragongo volcano eruption on January 17, 2002.  He was the only doctor at Virunga Hospital in Goma, the place where so many of the injured were brought for medical care during the war. This situation only emphasized what Jo believed - that it would be national physicians who would take care of their own.

We are glad that in January, 2000 we received official acceptance as a government- recognized NGO (Non-governmental organization) with the attendant tax-exempt status for all items that we buy in country or import for the work of DOCS.  Our faculty continues to grow.  We are currently working on the rebuilding of the Learning Center destroyed in the volcano.  You can contribute to this endeavor by sending your contribution (cost: $39.83 per square foot) to PO Box 24597, St. Simons Island, Georgia  31522.  If you are a physician and interested in becoming a member of our short-term, volunteer faculty, download a faculty application from this site and participate in a program that has lasting effects on a part of the world that has experienced excruciating traumas.