News
 COMBAT PHYSICIAN, DR. SUDIP BOSE, GIVES LECTURE “FROM BATTLEFIELD TO BEDSIDE” (Cochran, GA) - Dr. Sudip Bose recently spoke to Middle Georgia College students, faculty, and community members about his time as a combat physician in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. His lecture, "From Battlefield to Bedside," was the Learning Communities' keynote event for their Examined Lives series. During his time in Iraq, Dr. Bose treated soldiers and Iraqis, as well as former Iraqi President Suddam Hussein shortly after his capture in 2003. His work in Iraq earned him The Bronze Star. In addition to his work as an emergency room physician, Dr. Bose travels the world speaking about his experiences. Dr. Bose's work to help veterans since he came back from Iraq was one of the reasons he was perfect for MGC's Examined Life series, said Dr. Stephen Svonavec, an associate professor of history at MGC's Dublin campus. "Dr. Bose set up The Battle Continues organization to draw attention to the problems veterans face after returning home; not just the physical, but the emotional stress from being over there," said Dr. Svonavec. Dr. Bose spoke about several lessons that he learned while serving in Iraq. The first lesson he learned was that "anything can happen to anyone." When Dr. Bose first got to Iraq, he didn't know what to expect. "I thought it was going to be like the TV show MASH," he said. Dr. Bose's perspective changed, however. "It was very different," he said. "The situation makes you feel like the little guy, like you don't have control over your own destiny." He soon found that the locals were friendly. "They just want to live their lives," he said. Dr. Bose's second lesson is that "home is where the heart is." His group lived in tents and did medical work in a vehicle, caring for patients under a makeshift canopy. While staying in ransacked buildings, rats would fall through the ceiling tiles onto their sleeping cots. The experience taught him to be more appreciative. "I felt lucky to have cots to sleep on, foam to lie down on, and others to share experiences with," he said. The most important thing Dr. Bose learned through his experience was to be thankful. "You need to thank people in your life who care for you," he said. Regan Urquhart, a senior at Bleckley County High School who is dual enrolled at MGC, said the lecture was very interesting; especially the Question and Answer session that followed after a technical difficulty cut his presentation short. "It was very personal, and I think he was able to elaborate more on what the audience was interested in," she said. Overall, Urquhart was impressed by Dr. Bose. "He is an amazing individual who had so much heart to be able to do what he did," she said. Dr. Svonavec said he hopes students, through the lecture, can see how anyone can be extraordinary. "Dr. Bose's life is worth looking at," he said. "He's been able to do all these special things. It shows students that if they put the effort in, they can do something special with their lives." Author Janisse Ray will be the final speaker in The Examined Life Series on March 22 at 7:00 p.m. in Russell Hall Auditorium. She will be lecturing on sustainable living. |