Maine Couple to Train Healthcare Professionals in Malawi

NORFOLK, VA (01/31/2012)(readMedia)-- This month, a couple from Cumberland, Maine, is joining an international effort to train and support the next generation of healthcare providers in Malawi.

From Feb. 6 to March 31, Michael Curci, MD, a pediatric surgeon and a retired clinical professor at the Maine Medical Center in Portland, and Christine Curci, PhD, a mental health and conflict mitigation consultant, will deliver education, training and direct care at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre, Malawi, on behalf of Physicians for Peace, an international nonprofit based in Norfolk, Va.

"Christine and I have worked overseas before, but the length of this mission – two months – attracted us to the Physicians for Peace project," Michael said. "By spending a longer period of time in Malawi, we hope that the education we provide has a lasting value."

The United Nations classifies Malawi as one of the world's least developed nations, and the country's need for trained professionals and better medical education is profound. Working alongside Malawians and representatives from international aid and medical communities, Michael will volunteer as a faculty member in QECH's Surgical Intern Training Project (SITP), a program that trains interns and registrars (known as residents in the U.S.) in basic surgical techniques. Christine will provide guidance, education and support to the hospital's mental health department.

"By collaborating with our partners at QECH, Physicians for Peace can enhance the skillset and knowledge base of Malawian healthcare providers, so that ultimately they are empowered to improve patient care," said Brig. Gen. Ron Sconyers (USAF, Ret.), president and CEO of Physicians for Peace. "As experts in their respective fields and experienced educators, the Curcis are in a unique position to effect meaningful changes in Malawi."

For the past three years, the Curcis have divided their time between Maine and Tanzania, spending eight months of each year in Africa. While there, Michael trains assistant medical officers (who provide care in regions with an insufficient number of physicians) and Christine mentors faculty members and teaches undergraduates at The Newman Institute School of Social Work. Independently and together, they also have worked or volunteered at medical facilities and academic institutions in places such as Ghana, Haiti and underserved regions of the U.S., including rural Maine and post-Katrina New Orleans. But Sub-Saharan Africa holds a special place in their hearts, said Christine.

"There is a very special kind of humanity in that part of the world," she said. "There's nothing like working for people who are so grateful for your efforts. To be able to offer them information, insight and assistance, so that they can pass on those things to others...that's a gift for us."

For information on Physicians for Peace or to schedule an interview with Michael or Christine Curci, please contact Mary Westbrook.

ABOUT PHYSICIANS FOR PEACE

Physicians for Peace transforms lives by training, supporting and empowering healthcare professionals working with the world's underserved populations. Since 1989, volunteers have conducted medical missions in more than 60 countries. Find us online at www.physiciansforpeace.org and www.facebook.com/physiciansforpeace. Follow us on Twitter, Physician4Peace.