Peter Amollo (P. A.) Odhiambo, MBBS, MMed (Surg), FRCS (Edin), FCS (ECSA), FACC, is a Kenyan consultant

thoracic The thorax or chest is a part of the anatomy of humans, mammals, and other tetrapod animals located between the neck and the abdomen. In insects, crustaceans, and the extinct trilobites, the thorax is one of the three main divisions of the crea ...

and cardiovascular surgeon. He is Kenya's first cardiothoracic surgeon and a

professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an academic rank at universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who professes". Professors ...

and cardiovascular surgery at the

University of Nairobi The University of Nairobi (uonbi or UoN; ) is a collegiate research university based in Nairobi. It is the largest university in Kenya. Although its history as an educational institution dates back to 1956, it did not become an independent univer ...

. He is a

founder Founder or Founders may refer to: Places *Founders Park, a stadium in South Carolina, formerly known as Carolina Stadium * Founders Park, a waterside park in Islamorada, Florida Arts, entertainment, and media * Founders (''Star Trek''), the ali ...

and former chairman of the Kenya Cardiac Society, and a former president of the Pan African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR). Odhiambo is the chairman of the Kenya

Tobacco Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus '' Nicotiana'' of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the ...

Control Board. He is also the founder and editor of Medicom, the African Journal of Hospital Medicine.

Biography

In 1986, Odhiambo was given an award for an outstanding contribution in medicine by the Giant Federation of Kenya, and in 1993 he received another award from PASCAR for his distinguished service to cardiology in Africa. He was the tenth dean of Nairobi University's Faculty, now School of Medicine, serving from 1992 to 1996. During his tenure, he successfully steered the faculty towards cost-sharing through its most difficult period for both staff and students. In 2012, he was given the Mater Hospital Recognition Award, followed, in 2013, by the SSK award for Outstanding Role in Medical Education and Teaching. He conceptualized and then chaired the University of Nairobi Teaching Hospital Project. He has written two books: ''Tobacco Versus Health'' and ''Making Sense of Cessation of Tobacco''. Odhiambo has campaigned widely against substance use and is at the forefront in the fight for the liberation of tobacco farmers in East Africa. He has steered the Kenya Tobacco Control Board to a successful level enabling the board be legally institutionalized. He has also played a key role in ensuring that the legal mandate of the board is within the laid down legal framework as per the Tobacco Control Act of 2007, thus the Board has all the necessary instruments to operate legally. In 2008, Odhiambo won a

World No Tobacco Day Award World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is observed around the world every year on 31 May. The yearly celebration informs the public on the dangers of using tobacco, the business practices of tobacco companies, what the World Health Organization (WHO) is ...

from the

World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of ...

for his accomplishments in the area of tobacco control. In 2016, the Tobacco Control Board of Kenya won a WHO World No Tobacco Day Award. He worked tirelessly behind the scenes to create awareness on the dangers of shisha (hookah), and was instrumental in the Kenya government's decision to ban shisha in the country. He is involved in many community projects in his home village of Kanyaluo, found in Rachuonyo District in Western Kenya's Homa Bay County. He is a founder member and chairman of the Karachuonyo Development Society. In 1998, Odhiambo's son, James Ocholla Odhiambo "Jordan", was gunned down by Kenyan policemen, for no cause, on his way home from the Nairobi Campus of the United States International University, where he was a student. The tragedy, which exposed corruption in the

Kenya Police ) , formedyear = 1906 , formedmonthday = , preceding1 = , dissolved = , superseding = , employees = approx. 101,000= , volunteers = , budget = , country = Kenya , ...

at that time, received wide media coverage and was a major source of motivation for Odhiambo's interest in, and consequent campaigns toward, the efficiency and effectiveness of the

Kenya Police ) , formedyear = 1906 , formedmonthday = , preceding1 = , dissolved = , superseding = , employees = approx. 101,000= , volunteers = , budget = , country = Kenya , ...

. Odhiambo was educated at the

Calcutta Medical College Calcutta Medical College, officially Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, is a public medical school and hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It is the oldest existing hospital in Asia. The institute was established on 28 January 1835 ...

Nairobi University , mottoeng = In unity and work , image = Uon emblem.gif , image_size = 210px , caption = Coat of Arms of the University , type = Public , endowment ...

, the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

, and

McGill University McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous ...

. He resides in

Nairobi Nairobi ( ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase ''Enkare Nairobi'', which translates to "place of cool waters", a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper h ...

with his family.

References

* Kimathi, Benso
The Death of Innocents
''Daily Nation Saturday Magazine'', 13-19 Jan 2001; * Mayoyo, Patrick

''Daily Nation'' Wednesday, 25 June 2003; * Odhiambo, Peter A.

''East African Standard'', Saturday, 26 June 2004. * Odhiambo, Peter A

National Tobacco-Free Initiative, * Orr, David
'Hoax' AIDS Cure Makes a Fortune for Kenyan Coterie
' The Independent'', London, 3 June 1996. * Otieno-Onyando, John

Opinion, ''Kenya Times,'' 21 December 2006. *

Kenya Commemorates World No-Tobacco Day
''Country Press Releases,'' WHO Afro, 31 May 2006.

External links

Kenya Cardiac Society

Pan African Society of Cardiology

Surgical Society of Kenya

{{DEFAULTSORT:Odhiambo, Peter Amollo Living people Kenyan scientists Kenyan surgeons Medical educators Year of birth missing (living people) Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata alumni University of Nairobi alumni Alumni of the University of Edinburgh McGill University alumni

Biography

See also

References

External links