Monrovia, Liberia – President Joseph N. Boaoaki has received an Honorary Doctoral degree from Liberia College of Physicians and Surgeons (LCPS) for his numerous contributions to the university.
Friday, September 13, 2024, President Boakai got his doctorate degree at the EJS Ministerial Complex following the conferment of medical doctor degrees of seventeen Liberians at the eight convocation and annual general meeting of the university.
Making a special comment during the occasion, LCPS President Prof. John K. Mulbah said on September 30, 2013, than Vice President Joseph N. Boakai amount others launched the college after the Legislature enacted the Act establishing the Liberia College of Physicians and Surgeons.
He said with a cohort of 19 first year residents, the postgraduate training in the four fundamental medical disciplines of Internal Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pediatrics started in October of 2013.
Prof. Mulbah added that the Ebola epidemic caused the training to be canceled between September 2014 and June 2015. During this time a Department of Internal Medicine faculty member and an OB/GYN resident contracted the fatal disease.
“Training was restarted in July 2015. In September 2017, the College graduated its first cohort of 13 medical and surgical specialists who were inducted into Membership of the Liberia College of Physicians and Surgeons. Subsequently, Faculties of Family Medicine (2017), Ophthalmology (2018) and Psychiatry (2019) were launched and commenced training.”
The LCPS President maintained that the residency program has gone on since with the 7th cohort adding 125 LCPS educated medical and surgical doctors.
“I am as greatly honored and humbled to receive this prestigious honorary Fellowship from your reputable Institution as I am highly delighted to be in your midst for this historic ceremony today,” the Liberian leader added.
President Boakai explained that he is grateful to Prof. Mulbah, the Executive Council, Fellows, and Members of LCPS for honoring and recognizing his efforts; saying, the Fellowship symbolizes the collective efforts of all those who have supported and encouraged us in our journey to establish this Institution as a Law. The President also express gratitude to the members of the Legislature who supported the passage of the Act that established the Liberia College of Physicians and Surgeons over a decade ago.
“I want to note that this achievement occurred during my time serving as President of the Liberian Senate, which was facilitated by my position as Vice President of the Republic.”
Being one of the youngest postgraduate schools in the sub-region, President Boakai pointed out that the institution is supposed to supply all secondary and tertiary hospitals in the nation with the required medical specialties to cure all kinds of medical conditions.
The President added that the institution is supposed to encourage high standards professional practice, ethics, and morality among doctors in Liberia as well as foster continuous professional development in medicine, surgery, and allied disciplines.
a“Today, Liberia can proudly claim to have locally trained specialists. Liberian specialists are now working at Phebe Hospital in Bong County, Jackson F. Doe Hospital in Nimba County, J.J. Dossen Hospital in Maryland, and Emirate Hospital in Gbarpolu, among others.”
He said Liberians need to be aware of the reality that the long-term success of the College depends on investing in Liberian faculty; adding, currently, only 25% of the Faculty Chairs are Liberian, which needs to changed.
President Boakai said Liberia has to develop more Liberian experts engaged in academia in the several training hospitals around the nation to guarantee the viability of the College.
“I want to emphasize the importance of empowering and enriching this institution so that it can have a significant impact on our healthcare system.”
Reported by: Prince Saah
Contact: +231778239813
Email: saahprince119@gmail.com
