Ghana Doctor First African Fellow of American Wound Care
Dr Richard Owusu Nyarko has become the first African and Ghanaian to be named a Fellow of the American Professional Wound Care Association (APWCA), marking a historic milestone for Ghana’s medical community.
The APWCA, a leading U.S. organisation of physicians, surgeons, clinical educators and specialised wound‑care nurses, grants fellowship only to members who have demonstrated sustained excellence. Dr Owusu Nyarko previously served as a Diplomate of the Association for five years with an unblemished record before meeting the stringent criteria for fellowship.
Born and raised in the Ashanti Region, he excelled at Holy Child School in Obuasi, passing the BECE with distinction. He continued at Kumasi Anglican Secondary School, studying General Science before earning a B.Sc. from the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at Presbyterian University College on a full Knatto Complex scholarship.
Pursuing his dream of becoming a doctor, he began a Bachelor of Medicine‑Bachelor of Surgery programme in Ghana, then transferred to the Doctor of Medicine programme at the American International University of West Africa in The Gambia. While there, he passed the NBME USA IFOM examinations and graduated as valedictorian, achieving distinctions across most courses.
In compliance with Ghana’s regulations for foreign‑trained physicians, he presented his credentials to the Ghana Medical and Dental Council, which successfully verified his MD degree. He is also licensed to practice within the East African Community, broadening his professional reach.
Financial support from his aunt, Mrs Angelina Owusu of Texas, enabled him to complete a master’s in Health Care Management – a joint programme between Ghana Technology University and Cass Europe, Luxembourg. He later added a second master’s in Clinical Leadership and Management from the University of Ghana and an Advanced Executive Mastery Certificate in Business Administration and Enterprise Leadership from the Graduate School of Governance and Leadership.
His academic journey culminated in a Ph.D. in Health Care Management, awarded through a collaborative programme between Ghana Communication Technology University and Cass Europe, France, and certified by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission.
Starting as an adjunct lecturer, Dr Owusu Nyarko rose to senior lecturer and became the first qualified Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ghana Christian University College, now serving as Vice President and Head of Academics.
Beyond teaching, he is a prolific researcher with over forty peer‑reviewed publications spanning health sciences, medicine, pharmacology, public health, health economics and health‑care management, indexed on ResearchGate, Google Scholar and Academia.edu.
His international affiliations include the East African Society of Physiological Sciences, the American College of Clinical Wound Specialists (ACCWS), the American Heart Association and the Medical Association of Tanzania.
“I am deeply honoured to receive the fellowship, which reflects not only my personal commitment but also the growing expertise of Ghana’s health professionals,” Dr Richard Owusu Nyarko said.
A spokesperson for the Ghana Medical and Dental Council added, “Dr Owusu Nyarko’s achievement underscores the quality of Ghanaian medical training and inspires future doctors to pursue global excellence.”
The historic fellowship positions Dr Owusu Nyarko as a role model for aspiring clinicians and academics in Ghana, signalling greater international recognition for the nation’s health sector and encouraging more professionals to engage with prestigious global bodies.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
