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{{Infobox person
| name = Ivan Edwards, DO, FAAPMR, FRSA<ref>{{cite web |title=Ivan Edwards becomes an inducted fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in London |url=http://www.ugandandiasporanews.com/2021/08/15/dr-ivan-edwards-becomes-an-inducted-fellow-of-the-royal-society-of-arts-rca-in-london/ |website=Uganda Diaspora |publisher=Uganda Diaspora news |accessdate=16 May 2024 |archive-date=25 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425195057/http://www.ugandandiasporanews.com/2021/08/15/dr-ivan-edwards-becomes-an-inducted-fellow-of-the-royal-society-of-arts-rca-in-london/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| image = Dr. Ivan Edwards.jpg
|birth_name =
| nationality = [[Americans|American]]
| education = Rivier University (BS); Midwestern University (DO);
EVMS (Medicine);
UT Health Science Center - San Antonio (Residency);
USAF School of Aerospace Medicine
Air University
| occupation = Medical doctor;
Military officer (USAF Reserve) - Rank, Lt Colonel;
Writer / Poet
}}

'''Ivan Edwards''' is an American doctor with Ugandan-European [[mixed race]] background. He is a flight surgeon (a [[doctor]] who treats people that do flying work, like [[Pilot|pilots]]). He in the [[United States Air Force|US Air Force Reserve]], at the rank of [[lieutenant colonel]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alamo Wing flight surgeon receives prestigious fellowship|url=https://www.433aw.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2792665/alamo-wing-flight-surgeon-receives-prestigious-fellowship/|access-date=2024-05-16|website=433rd Airlift Wing|language=en-US}}</ref> He was chosen, in February 2026, to become a [[colonel]].<ref name="WD">{{Cite web|title=Ugandan‑Born U.S. Air Force Flight Surgeon Selected for Promotion to Colonel|url=https://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20260215/188669/ugandan-born-u-s-air-force-flight-surgeon-selected-for-promotion-to-colonel.html|website=WATCHDOG NEWS}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ugandan-Born US Air Force doctor selected for promotion to Colonel|url=https://www.pulse.ug/story/ugandan-born-us-air-force-doctor-selected-for-promotion-to-colonel-2026021608191537149|last=Asingwire|first=Mzee|date=2026-02-16|website=PULSE}}</ref> He is the first flight surgeon of Ugandan descent in the US Air Force.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kmaupdates|date=2023-10-12|title=THE HEALTH SECTOR IN UGANDA|url=https://kmaupdates.com/2023/10/12/the-health-sector-in-uganda/|access-date=2024-05-16|website=Kmaupdates|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name ="WD" /><ref name="MON">{{Cite web|title=How Ugandan-born Edwards found his calling in the USA|url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/how-ugandan-born-edwards-found-his-calling-in-the-usa-5382838|last=Matogo|first=Philip|date=2026-03-07|website=MONITOR}}</ref> He played a big role in stopping the sale of a historic cemetery in [[Kampala]], [[Uganda]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Candia|first=Steven|date=13 April 2009|title=US Soldier to Fight for KCC Cemetery|work=New Vision|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/200904140127.html|access-date=16 May 2024}}</ref> He is a [[public speaker]]. He has a healthcare practice in [[San Antonio]], [[Texas]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Meet Dr. Ivan Edwards|url=https://canvasrebel.com/meet-dr-ivan-edwards/|access-date=2024-05-16|website=canvasrebel.com|language=en-US|archive-date=2024-05-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516083025/https://canvasrebel.com/meet-dr-ivan-edwards/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He is also a [[writer]] and [[poet]]<ref>{{WebCite|title=Readers' Favorite Book Review|date=12/10/2025|url=https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/resonance-of-the-soul|dateformat=}}</ref><ref name="AOA">{{Cite web|title=Poetry collection by DO explores healing, resilience|url=https://thedo.osteopathic.org/2026/02/poetry-collection-by-do-explores-healing-resilience/|last=Arvia|first=Katie|date=2026-02-11|website=The DO (AOA Publication)}}</ref>

== Background and education ==
He was born in Kampala, Uganda, and lived there during the [[dictatorship]] of [[Idi Amin]], a ruler who destroyed many people’s lives. In the late 1980’s, he came to the USA and became an American [[Citizenship|citizen]]. He completed his education in the U.S. He joined the US [[Air force|Air Force]] Reserve after the [[September 11 attacks|9/11 terrorist attacks in the US]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ugandan immigrant escapes dictatorship, finds rehabilitation in Air Force|url=https://reservenationalguard.com/reserve-guard-news/ugandan-immigrant-air-force-service/|last=Williams|first=Kari|access-date=2025-01-25|website=RESERVE + NATIONAL GUARD MAGAZINE}}</ref>

== Community work ==
In 2009, Edwards played a big role in preventing the sale of an old [[cemetery]] in Kampala, Uganda. This cemetery, called the Kampala European Cemetery, was where many important people from Uganda’s past, including some of Edwards’ family, were buried. Some people wanted to buy the cemetery to build a shopping mall there, but Edwards didn’t want that to happen.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Candia|first=Steven|date=11 April 2009|title=Family Opposes City Cemetery Giveaway|work=The New Vision|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/200904130663.html|access-date=16 May 2024}}</ref>
He started a protest and got a lot of people involved. Because of the attention from the local news and the community’s support, the cemetery was saved from being sold. It was also recognized as a historical place that needed to be protected.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Mwanje|first=Robert|date=24 August 2006|title=Uganda: Sebaggala Stops Grave Relocation|work=Uganda Monitor|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/200608230967.html|access-date=16 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Nantaba|first=Eriosi|date=22 April 2013|title=KCCA Denies Cemetery Sale|work=East African Business Week|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201304230619.html|access-date=16 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Kasoma|first=Aloysious|date=21 May 2013|title=Jinja Road Cemetery to Become Tourist Site|work=The Observer|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201305221445.html|access-date=16 May 2024}}</ref>

== Medical work ==
Edwards’ medical practice focuses on managing the patients' pain and restoring them back to good function. <ref>{{Cite news|last=Lateef|first=Oyalola|date=6 June 2021|title=True Health Begins With The Mind|work=Top Doctors Magazine|url=https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/health-nutrition/true-health-begins-with-the-mind/|access-date=16 May 2024}}</ref>

== Writing and poetry ==
Edwards wrote a book of poems called ''Resonance of the Soul: Flowers and Harmonics.'' It won the Literary Titan Gold Book Award (Sept 2025).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Literary Titan Book Award: Poetry|url=https://literarytitan.com/2025/09/05/literary-titan-book-award-poetry-6/|access-date=2025-09-05}}</ref><ref name="AOA" />

The book also won the Distinguished Favorite (in poetry), 2026.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Independent Press Award|url=https://www.independentpressaward.com/2026-favorites/9798998982910}}</ref>

== Awards (selected) ==
2025: the Uganda Poetry Society created a national award called The Dr. Ivan Edwards Poetry Award. It is worth $1,000.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Introducing The Dr. Ivan Edwards Poetry Award: A New Literary Honor for Ugandan Poets|url=https://fatumasvoice.org/dr-ivan-edwards-poetry-award/|last=Matogo|first=Philip}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Meet the Esteemed Judges of the 2026 Dr. Ivan Edwards Poetry Award|url=https://fatumasvoice.org/274661/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Dr. Ivan Edwards Poetry Award 2026|url=https://ugandapoetrysociety.org/the-dr-ivan-edwards-poetry-award-2026/|access-date=2025-12-11|website=Uganda Poetry Society}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Ivan}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Kampala]]
[[Category:American physicians]]
[[Category:Scientists from Texas]]
[[Category:Poets]]

Ivan Edwards - Revision history

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