Medical Books Get a New Life

By Laura Pacha M.D.’98

Updated Sept. 7, 2007
On Sept. 6, 2007, the 2,000 medical textbooks and journals collected through Books without Borders were handed over to the United States Army. Patrice Healey, M.D., ’84 and LTC Christopher Talcott, FA shared with the media and guests the scope and significance Books without Borders will have on the medical education and health care in Iraq.

Are there medical books on your shelf that haven’t been opened in years and are collecting dust? The UCLA Medical Alumni Association (MAA) recently launched Books without Borders, a project that will give new life and meaning to your dust-covered books. In a collaborative effort with the United States Army, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, UCLA School of Nursing, UCLA Health Sciences Store, and Los Angeles County Fire Department, the MAA is collecting used medical texts, including journals and reference materials, published since 1994 and donating them to hospitals and medical schools in Iraq. The textbooks are needed to teach courses for medical students, nurses, laboratory technicians, EMTs, and others in ancillary fields. In addition, this project will allow practicing Iraqi physicians to update their knowledge and American physicians to review procedures.

As the preventive medicine officer for Northern Iraq, I am responsible for overseeing the health of more than 20,000 soldiers, service members, contractors, and Department of Defense civilians. While this work is always interesting and rewarding, the greater need lies with Iraq’s medical system. Consequently, I’ve become increasingly involved with local Iraqi physicians and efforts to rebuild the Iraqi public medical care system. Providing the tools for Iraqi doctors to improve their education and healthcare facilities is a critical step in reconstruction.

Much of the decay in the Iraqi medical care system began with Saddam’s reign. The medical system became very isolated during the last decade of his regime. Iraqi doctors are working very hard to restore it, especially the medical education system at all levels and in all fields, including ancillary services. They are consistently grateful for donations of any medical textbooks or journals. Any materials published since 1994 are considered current in Iraq. While Iraq's doctors would love to take greater advantage of all that is available on the Internet, the lack of electricity, slow access, and limited availability make it difficult for most students and doctors to access its resources.

English is the language of medicine in Iraq. Doctors are able to read English, and the courses are taught in English. Nurses would need to know some English in order to better communicate with the doctors. It is interesting to note that paramedics and EMTs are somewhat of a new concept in Iraq.

Books covering the basics of anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology are in demand, and multiple copies will be beneficial for the medical schools and reference libraries located in Tikrit Teaching Hospital and Mosul University. There are several nursing and vocational schools across the north of Iraq, including Diyala and Tikrit. These institutions are also in need of materials collected through Books without Borders.

Livia Solti-Bohman ’71, M.D.’75, an MAA board member, is serving as the project liaison. The project is ongoing. If you would like to donate books, please drop them off at the UCLA Health Sciences Store at CHS. If you would like more information on the project, contact Valerie Walker, director of the UCLA MAA, at 310-794-4025 or vwalker@support.ucla.edu.

Read more news stories about Books without Borders.
• Text donations to assist Iraqi doctors, Daily Bruin
• Giving books a second life in Iraq, UCLA Today
• UCLA Sends Medical Books to Irag, KABC
• Bruins send medical textbooks to Iraq, UCLA Today
• Medical Books from UCLA are Bound for Iraq, Daily News
• UCLA Alum Donate Medical Textbooks to Iraqi Doctors, KPCC