Onaly Kapasi a leader in Pain Relief

Onaly A. Kapasi M.D.

I was born in Mombassa, Kenya, a British Protectorate at the time of my birth, but now an independent country. My early days were spent in Zanzibar a sultanate off the coast of East Africa. Our family moved to Tanga in Tanganyika when I was about 5 years old. I am a third child of a family of four. My older brother is a physician in Scotland (He is a recipient of the MBE-Member of the British Empire award); my sister a retired director of nursing and my youngest brother is a chief pharmaceutical representative in Canada. My father was a school principal and my mother was my mentor, educator, nutritionist, guidance councilor and my best friend. My father inculcated my desire for learning and my teachers helped that desire take shape.

In 1960 I attended an International Boys Scout Jamboree in Lahore, Pakistan representing the Third Tanga Group of the African Boys Scouts.  In scouting I received a ‘President Scout Award� an equivalent of an Eagle Scout in the USA. In school I enjoyed most sports. I won the high school debating contest in my senior year. Upon completion of Cambridge Overseas School Certification in 1963 I went to India to pursue medical education. Upon completion of medical education I returned to Africa in 1971 to join the Kenyan Health Services in preference to starting a lucrative medical practice. At medical school I was on the swim, soccer, and field hockey teams and I ran 1500 and 5000-meter distances. I graduated at the top of my class each of the three academic medical school years.

I met Chandra, during the final medical school year and we were married just after internship. In Kenya I completed M. Med Surgery (Master of Medicine in Surgery) at the Nairobi University where I received the coveted Ethicon Prize for academic excellence. I was selected for a Harvard Fellowship at the prestigious Children’s Hospital Medical Center in 1975. Thereafter I completed a Harvard residency in general surgery and a Tufts University residency in orthopædic surgery. I opened an orthopedic practice at the prestigious 1180 Beacon Street address in Brookline in 1980 and expanded my practice to Cambridge, Dedham and later to Haverhill.

I wrote a research paper “Psoriatic Hands� that was awarded the ‘Best Scientific Paper Award� in 1981 at the Hand Society meeting in New Orleans. In 1999 I was also a guest lecturer at Indian Orthopædic Society meeting where I spoke of my experience with ACL reconstruction

I write poetries, some of which are published and I was invited to recite two poems on genocide - Bosnia and Mauthhausen Gusen at a meeting against ethnic cleansing that convened in Boston. I was invited to recite my poem ‘Twin Towers� at a solidarity meeting held at the Mechanics Hall in Worcester in the days after the 9/11 tragedy. I am invited each year to MIT, Harvard and other places to recite personal poems. I love gardening and cooking and my family call me the ‘fix-it-man�, as I love fixing things around the house.

About 19 years ago our family co-sponsored a free medical clinic at the foothills of the Indian Himalayas that now serves the indigent community 6-days a week. On my 50th birthday we raised about $20,000.00 to start an “Adopt a Village� program sponsored by the free clinic. Each year I conduct free orthopædic care in India. In 1999 I was appointed the medical director of a program called “Centers for Medical Excellence� a collaborative program between the USA and India. The prime directive of the program is to assist India with advances in medical technology.

I provide free care in the East African countries of Tanzania and Kenya and collect surplus medical equipment from Boston area hospitals for needy third world countries and I also assist with the operation of a free clinic in Waltham, Massachusetts that is housed in a Methodist Church.

I served on the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine for three years where I chaired the Medical Licensing Committee and other healthcare committees. I have also served as a physician member on the Alternative Healthcare Board of Massachusetts. I am presently a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons� Ethics Committee and the New England Delegate to the American Association of Physicians from India.

I am a recipient of dedicated service awards from the Himalayan International Institute, American Association of Physicians from India (AAPI) and a recipient of 2009 Humanitarian Award from the Indian Medical Assoc. of New England. I was nominated for the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery 2010 Humanitarian Award. I have also received leadership award from the Indian Medical Association of New England and a Special Service Award for assisting Indian physicians and AAPI. I received an honorary fellowship from the American Academy of Neurological and Orthopedic Sthis isurgery in May 2010.