CLINICAL DIRECTOR COLLABORATES ON BOTSWANA PROJECT

Dr. Phil O’Dwyer, Clinical Director of the Center for Counseling at Garden City Hospital and Adjunct Professor of Counseling at Oakland University will engage in a collaborative project with the University of Botswana in Southern Africa. This consultation is intended to develop a Pastoral Counseling Masters degree program for Botswana. This need had been identified by the Pastoral Association of Clergy, troubled by the strain the country’s AIDS epidemic is having on their congregations. This country is experiencing significant Aids related death rates in their middle aged population, leaving an elderly cohort and an exploding orphan population. Currently, the life expectancy is 37. The clergy feel the need for advanced counseling skills to cope with this situation and prevent burnout. Dr. O’Dwyer will speak at a conference on this topic at the University of Botswana.

Oakland University in Rochester has a doctoral student from Botswana and this collaboration is likely to bring more students from Botswana to complete their Doctoral Studies at Oakland University. Earlier this year Dr. O’Dwyer spoke to a graduate class in counseling in Botswana via satellite. “I am excited by the opportunity this project provides,” said Dr. O’Dwyer, “my goal is to assist these clergy who have dedicated themselves to building up a community devastated by AIDS.” Dr. O’Dwyer leaves on August 5th on this mission.