GRANTS - Dr. Okay Odocha has been invited to join the staff at Cibola General Hospital as part of the continuing attempt to attract and encourage residents to visit the hospital's doctors.

The general surgeon moved here with his wife and four of their seven children, aged 2 to 4 years, from Washington D.C.

The Howard University professor has training to work with a wide range of anatomical areas. His training includes six years surgery training and two years sub-specialization in organ transplantation. He is board certified in general surgery and has been recently recertified, as required every 10 years by the American Board of Surgery.

A few of his specialties are organ transplants, vascular surgery, kidney failure, administering treatments for hepatitis C and liver disease, and working to lessen the healing time of complex wounds and diabetic food ulcers.

The doctor has already begun surgeries and assisting Dr. Karl Gutierrez on recent gall bladder and tonsillectomy operations.

“If someone has an operation, you want your loved ones to be able to come visit you without driving for an hour,” was another reason given by Odocha for wanting to help people to remain closer to home.

Odocha's additional goal is to increase awareness of preventable diseases.

The surgeon was unintentionally recruited by Taube Jenkins, the chaplain for Cibola General Hospital. They met in Pittsburgh when Jenkins was visiting his son who had donated half of his own liver to his daughter, Odocha reported.

As they talked about Grants, the community and its hospital, Odocha's interest increased.

“Grants found me, I didn't find Grants. It's the will of God,” the surgeon said. “I had other opportunities, but felt drawn to Grants. My interview was planned for two days, but I stayed for five days.”

Odocha's holistic philosophy has evolved into a book, “Angels in Our Midst.”

“Patients are special people in our lives,” he said. “We learn from patients. They are the ones who teach us to deal with problems and adversities.”

Dr. Odocha can be reached for appointments at the Cibola Family Health Center: 285-3767: 1208 Bonita St., next to Cibola General Hospital in the pharmacy building.His book can be found on Amazon.com