Tales from retirement: A senior's lecture tour

Like others in academic medicine I have been to many places as a visiting lecturer. Latterly, however, I found these visits were unsatisfactory on two counts. Firstly, the places I visited tended to be rather privileged. Secondly, the visits were too short to have much impact. Since retirement I have made several visits designed to lessen these disadvantages. I would like to encourage other retired doctors to try similar ventures.

As a general rule I have avoided very rich and very poor countries because for different, but obvious, reasons they don't need me. I prefer a middle income country; one in which they may have the books and some equipment but lack experience and perspective. And, …