Dr Bill Nelems was born in Springs, South Africa on April 26th, 1939. His parents were Canadian, his father a mine manger. The first 17 years of his life were spent in the various mine towns of South Africa and what was then Northern Rhodesia (Zambia since independence).
With increasing unrest in Africa, the Nelems family returned to Canada where Bill enrolled at the University of Toronto, intending to follow his father's footsteps as a mining engineer. However, the fun his sister Bev was having with medical studies sparked the passion for medicine in Bill which remains to this day.
As a world class Thoracic Surgeon (he performed the first lung transplant in Canada) Dr Nelems has enjoyed a fabulous career, and has earned the respect of his patients, colleagues and co-workers. He has been recognized many times for his contributions to Canadian healthcare, most recently receiving the 2009 Award of Excellence in Medical Achievement by the B.C. College of Physicians and Surgeons.
In addition to achieving excellence in the medical field, he has also achieved excellence in the family world, being a very proud father to 4 daughters and now enjoying 4 grandchildren. Bill and his wife Mary Ellen live in Kelowna.
Always cognizant of his good fortune and the opportunities available to him, Dr Nelems knew that one day he would return to the land of his birth to use his expertise and help facilitate healthcare in the developing country. That day occurred in 2006, when a trip to Zambia resulted in renewing connections with U of T classmate Dr Chifumbe Chintu, an icon in pediatrics in Africa.
Reconnecting with Dr Chintu lead to meeting Dr. Margaret Maimbola which eventually resulted in Bill making a solo scouting trip to Mongu in the Western Province of Zambia, and the initial meeting with Dr. Andrew Silumesii. Meanwhile back in Canada, the passion and enthusiasm of Dr Nelems had begun to ignite others. It was not long before a group of dedicated physicians and nurses - all with a desire to help our Zambian colleagues increase their healthcare capacity, came together.
The vision of Dr Bill Nelems is now shared, OkaZHI has been born
