Interview with Shannon Hager, June 20, 2021

Interview Summary

Shannon Hager was a health volunteer in Liberia, 1978-1980, and in the Democratic Republic of Congo/Zaire, 1985-1986. Shannon almost quit during training due to the harsh conditions, but persevered. Her job was to open new rural clinics. One of these was in the bush town of Bassagiahtown. In 1980, Liberia’s president was assassinated in a military coup. The villagers of Bassagiahtown protected “Doctor Woman” from military harassment. Shannon suffered several illnesses while in Liberia. She said Liberia took her way out of her comfort zone and changed the trajectory of her life toward public health. She jokingly counts as her greatest accomplishment that she survived. In 1985, Shannon was assigned to the World Health Organization’s monkeypox project in Congo. Even though smallpox was deemed eradicated, people began exhibiting something that looked like smallpox. Shannon worked with a mobile medical team finding cases, collecting scabs and preparing animal specimens for analysis.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps (U.S.) Liberia (Country of service) 1978-1980 (Date of service) Democratic Republic of Congo/Zaire (Country of service) 1985-1986 (Date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Health Liberia Democratic Republic of Congo/Zaire Peace Corps (U.S.)--1970-1980 Peace Corps (U.S.)--1980-1990 Liberian military coup 1980 French, English Vai Bassa Lingala Language training Training Cultural training Peace Corps-related medical issues

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