In October, Alan Richards, M.D., FACS, head and neck surgeon in UNMC’s department of otolaryngology, performed surgery on a member of the royal family of the Kingdom of Bahrain, who had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Nizar Mamdani and the Office of International Healthcare Services (OIHS) made arrangements for Dr. Richard’s first medical mission to the Middle East.
“I have a lot of experience in treating thyroid cancer,” Dr. Richards said. “The royal family did not want to send the teen-aged female patient overseas, so Nizar Mamdani was asked to arrange for a specialist to come to the International Hospital of Bahrain and do the surgery there.”
A native of South Africa, Dr. Richards has lived in the United States for five years.
Medical background
South Africa follows the British medical school system. Dr. Richards completed his six-year course at the University of Witwatersrand Medical School in 1966 and received his M.B., B.Ch., which is equivalent to M.D.
Dr. Richards was a lecturer in surgery for more than 20 years in South Africa. He was chief of the head and neck tumor clinic at Johannesburg Hospital for 14 years and served as a fellowship examiner at the College of Medicine of South Africa in oral and maxillofacial surgery, radiation oncology and otorhinolaryngology. He joined the faculty of UNMC as an associate professor of surgery in July 2000.
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UNMC’s Alan Richards, M.D., left, at the International Hospital of Bahrain with surgeon Uday Muddebihal, M.D. |
Head, neck oncology surgery
Head and neck oncology surgery involves cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx, sinuses, thyroid, upper part of the esophagus, skin cancer on the face and salivary glands. There are a wide variety of tumors in these areas – especially the mouth, throat and larynx due to tobacco use, and skin cancer, due to exposure to the sun. Dr. Richards has patients from across Nebraska, as well as Iowa, South Dakota, Missouri, Kansas — and now Bahrain.
The visit
“Quite frankly, I didn’t know what to expect when I went to Bahrain,” Dr. Richards said. “I thought I’d find a hostile environment with strange kinds of foods that I wouldn’t be able to eat. It was totally the opposite. The people were the most welcoming and friendly and the foods were out of this world. I had a car and driver 24 hours a day during my three-day stay and I was accommodated at a most luxurious hotel.
“The medical professionals in Bahrain practice western-style medicine because most of them are British-trained. They all speak excellent English and their oil rich economy affords them the ability to purchase the best facilities and equipment to be found in America. The hospital I served at had everything. I was quite surprised.”
About Bahrain
Bahrain is a small island nation (only 50 miles by 20 miles) in the Persian Gulf just east of Saudi Arabia. Bahrain is considered the most liberal nation in the Middle East. The population is 600,000, most of which lives in Manama, the capital city. The majority of women in Bahrain wear western style clothing, although many still choose to wear the traditional full-length total body coverings. A six-lane causeway connects Bahrain to Saudi Arabia and brings thousands of Saudis across the water each weekend where they are free of conservative social restraints and can partake of nightclubs and alcoholic beverages. Although Bahrain was the first country in the gulf area where oil was discovered, today the economy earns more money through the refining and transporting of oil, than its production. It also is a major center of international banking.
Dr. Richards: “An exceptional experience”
“Health professionals are very eager to learn in Bahrain,” Dr. Richards said. “I had quite a large audience during my operation. People were snapping photos all over the place. I gave several lectures and they were crushed with attendees. It was really like giving a lecture in America.
Everyone understood every word and the whole trip was quite enjoyable.
“I really recommend other physicians work with OIHS. Check out what is being offered, the facilities that they will be working at and then give it a try. I really found it to be an exceptional experience and would do it again.”