A Ghanaian medical doctor and academic, Dr Richard Owusu Nyarko, has been named a Fellow of the American Professional Wound Care Association (APWCA), one of the most prestigious professional organisations in the United States comprising physicians, surgeons, clinical educators, and specialised wound-care nurses.

He becomes the first African and the first Ghanaian to attain this distinguished status after meeting all requirements. Dr Owusu Nyarko had served as a Diplomate of the Association in good standing for five years with an unblemished professional record before earning the fellowship title. This accomplishment grants him the legal privilege to use the post-nominal “FAPWCA” professionally and academically worldwide.

PROFILE OF DR. RICHARD OWUSU NYARKO

Dr Owusu Nyarko completed his basic education at Holy Child School in Obuasi, Ashanti Region, passing with distinction in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

He continued to Kumasi Anglican Secondary School (KASS), where he studied General Science, before pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences of the Presbyterian University College, Ghana, on a full scholarship from Knatto Complex Limited.

Motivated to become a medical doctor, he began a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery programme in Ghana and later transitioned into the Doctor of Medicine (MD) programme at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, American International University of West Africa (AIUWA) in The Gambia, with support from Mr Raymond Amedior.

While at AIUWA, he passed the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) USA IFOM 1 & 2 examinations and graduated as Valedictorian, earning distinctions in most of his courses.

In line with Ghana’s requirement for all foreign-trained doctors, he presented his credentials to the Ghana Medical and Dental Council for verification, which successfully authenticated his MD degree. He is also registered and licensed as a medical doctor within the East African Community (EAC).

Dr. Owusu Nyarko received financial support from Mrs Angelina Owusu, a maternal aunt and philanthropist based in Texas, USA, to complete a master’s degree in Health Care Management — a joint programme between Ghana Technology University College (now Ghana Communication Technology University) and Cass Europe, Luxembourg.

Committed to further academic and professional development, he completed a second master’s degree in Clinical Leadership and Management (M.Sc. CLAM) from the University of Ghana. He also holds an Advanced Executive Mastery Certificate in Business Administration and Enterprise Leadership from the Graduate School of Governance and Leadership (GSGL).

He earned his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Health Care Management through a collaborative programme between Ghana Communication Technology University and Cass Europe, France. This degree has been verified and certified by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).

Through hard work, perseverance, and dedication, Dr Owusu Nyarko rose from Adjunct Lecturer to Senior Lecturer at Ghana Christian University College (an institution affiliated with the University for Development Studies). He later became the institution’s first qualified Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences.

He currently serves as the Vice President and Head of Academics at Ghana Christian University College.

Beyond his medical practice, he is an accomplished health science researcher with more than 40 peer-reviewed publications in reputable international journals covering Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacology, Public Health, Health Economics, and Health Care Management. His works are accessible on ResearchGate, Google Scholar, and Academia.edu.

INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Dr Owusu Nyarko is the first African and Ghanaian to qualify as both a Diplomate and Fellow of the American Professional Wound Care Association (APWCA). He is also the first African to become a Fellow of the American College of Clinical Wound Specialists (ACCWS).

He is a member of the East African Society of Physiological Sciences (EASPS), which grants him automatic membership in the African Association of Physiological Sciences (AAPS). He is also a professional member of the American Heart Association and the Medical Association of Tanzania (MAT).