International Surgical Health Initiative prides itself as a NGO run 100% by volunteers. Our volunteers devote their time, money, expertise and most importantly their commitment to make a significant impact on every single mission.
Dr. Kevin Clarke is no exception to this. Dr. Clarke is board certified in Surgery with subspecialty training in Surgical Oncology. Dr. Clarke committed to a career in medicine early in his life. A graduate of Binghamton University (BA, Biology, 1994) and the University of Connecticut School of Medicine (MD, 1998), he completed general surgery residency training at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (NJMS), where he was also chosen to be Administrative Chief Resident. He completed a fellowship in Surgical Oncology at City of Hope National Cancer Center in 2006 and was subsequently recruited to join the faculty at NJMS, where in addition to patient care, he served as the Associate Program Director General Surgery Residency program and Associate Program Director General Surgery Clerkship program from 2009-2011. He was then recruited to the Department of Surgery to be Director of Surgical Oncology at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in 2011. Dr. Clarke is the recipient of numerous awards including, Golden Key National Honor Society, New Jersey Oncology Society, AACT Research Scholar and the Golden Apple Teaching Award. He is a Fellow American College of Surgeons, member of the National Medical Association, Associate Member-Society of Black Academic Surgeons, Candidate Group-American College of Surgeons, Member-New Jersey Oncology Society, Associate Member-American Association of Cancer Research, Member-Society of Surgical Oncology, Member-American Society of Clinical Oncology, and Member Association for Academic Surgery.
“One of the most touching moments was when Dr. Clarke came out of the OR and peered through the recovery room doors, like a guardian angel, it showed me a different side of him. He genuinely cares for the overall wellbeing of his patients. I continue to admire how approachable and personable he remains with those he serves and all members of the healthcare team. I am honored to have worked with him on several missions. He is not only just an amazing surgeon but a true humanitarian.” –Lanika, RN
Dr. Clarke joined ISHI as a volunteer surgeon in 2009 and has been on 8 missions to date. His global mission work with ISHI has taken him to Guatemala, Philippines, Haiti two times, and Ghana four times. Through repeat ISHI missions to Ghana, he has established a prominent presence not only at Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital but also in the city of Aburi itself. He is known personally to the Queen Nana who holds Dr. Clarke in the highest regard.
Dr. Kevin Clarke was bestowed the official title of Nana Ayeh from Obosomase. During our most recent mission to Ghana in September 2017, several surgical patients came to TQMH specifically asking for Dr. Clarke. These patients were referred by family members and friends who themselves were patients on past ISHI missions.
Dr. Kevin Clarke has earned himself a reputation as an excellent, caring surgeon at TQMH. If you ask ISHI volunteers and TQMH staff about Dr. Clarke, you will find nothing but praise and admiration for him. When not in the Operating Room, you can find him checking in on his post-operative patients, visiting the PACU/ Floor nurses or talking to other members of the ISHI team just to see how their day is going.
His patience, composure, bedside manner and personable approach make him liked by all his fellow ISHI team members. Adding to his list of ISHI accomplishments, Dr. Clarke co-judged ISHI’s first talent show (took his role very seriously) and won a rookie hand at UNO (or so he told us it was).
He embodies teamwork, professionalism and a lightheartedness that makes him a welcome to any ISHI mission.
