Interview with Peter H. Kilmarx, September 15, 2021

Interview Summary

Peter H. Kilmarx served in the Peace Corps in Zaïre (Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC]) from 1984-1986 as a fisheries volunteer after he graduated pre-med from Dartmouth. He was invited to work with farmers to build fish ponds after his experience of working on a mussel farm. His training began in Fort Pierce, Florida and continued in Bukavu, Zaire. Peter already spoke French but enjoyed learning the local sayings during training. He was assigned to a rural community, Bakwa Tombe, a village of substance farmers, where he lived in a mud hut. He drove a Peace Corps-issued motorcycle to visit farmers and trained them in fish farming. A real highlight of his service was his parents’ visit. He often felt lonely being the only foreigner in 35 km but felt honored many local babies were named after him. His service confirmed his commitment to further his studies in medicine.

Interview Keyword

Dartmouth College Medicine Epidemiology Study Abroad France Zaïre DRC Agriculture Sector Fort Pierce, Florida Bukavu Lake Kivu Bakwa Tombe Mweka zone Kasai Occidental Kinshasa Kananga Lake Munkamba Zaire notes Fish ponds Fisheries Library Measles Giardia Malaria Filaria HIV Ebola Luebo CDC Atlanta NIH Doctors without Borders Sierra Leone Guinea PEPFAR RPCV groups

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