East Goshen Couple Dedicated to Global Health Care

Doctor and nurse have served in war zones, prisons, and disaster areas around the world.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 4:24pm

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A ghostly, translucent X-ray photograph showing the internal structures of a stethoscope and other medical supplies against a dark background, conceptually representing the couple's dedication to uncovering and treating hidden health issues around the world.The X-ray-like image reveals the inner workings of the medical tools used by this East Goshen couple to provide care in some of the world's most challenging environments.West Chester Today

Ken Marx, M.D., and his wife Eileen Sullivan-Marx, a nurse practitioner, have dedicated their lives to providing health care in some of the world's most challenging environments. From fighting Ebola in Africa to treating hurricane victims in Jamaica, the couple has made an indelible mark on global health. Eileen has also served as the dean of nursing at NYU, while Ken has volunteered at a local clinic in their Pennsylvania community.

Why it matters

The story highlights the extraordinary commitment and impact of this East Goshen couple, who have risked their own safety to provide medical care in some of the world's most dangerous and underserved regions. Their work serves as an inspiration and a reminder of the power of individuals to make a difference on a global scale.

The details

Ken Marx has made over a dozen annual trips to Africa, where he has treated inmates in Ugandan prisons and fought the Ebola outbreak in Liberia. He has also served in Afghanistan, supporting local opposition to the Taliban, and recently traveled to Jamaica to treat hurricane victims. Eileen Sullivan-Marx has held prestigious roles, including serving as the dean of nursing at NYU, where she led the school's response to Superstorm Sandy and the COVID-19 pandemic. The couple met at a West Chester Rotary meeting, where Ken spoke about his life-saving work abroad.

  • In 1999, Ken Marx was invited by the Ugandan government to tour a prison in Mukono.
  • In 2012, Eileen Sullivan-Marx was the dean of nursing at NYU during Superstorm Sandy and the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • In November, Ken Marx traveled to Jamaica to treat victims of a Category 5 hurricane.

The players

Ken Marx, M.D.

A 25-year emergency department physician who has dedicated his career to providing medical care in some of the world's most challenging environments, including prisons in Uganda, the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, and hurricane-ravaged areas in Jamaica.

Eileen Sullivan-Marx

An elite nurse practitioner who has held prestigious roles, including serving as the dean of nursing at the University of Pennsylvania and New York University, where she led the school's response to Superstorm Sandy and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joy Nsamba

A public health nurse in Uganda who was assigned to provide health care at 14 prisons over a large area, and collaborated with Ken Marx to improve the health of incarcerated individuals.

Team Rubicon

A nonprofit humanitarian group that Ken Marx worked with to provide medical care and support to victims of a Category 5 hurricane in Jamaica.

Community Volunteers in Medicine

A local clinic in Coatesville, Pennsylvania where Ken Marx volunteers on Tuesdays.

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What they’re saying

“Over the years, I have noticed that incarceration has a paradoxical calming effect on men in Africa, in contrast to the demoralizing effect on prisoners in the U.S.”

— Ken Marx, Physician

“The levels of fatigue that occur when you're caring for Ebola patients are unlike anything I've ever experienced, including situations where I've been up all night with patients.”

— Ken Marx, Physician

“Something that's more important than making a living is making a life. When I was a child I wanted to be a firefighter. I was very attracted to work that was a calling. Work that in many cases nobody else can or would do.”

— Ken Marx, Physician

“If you want Dr. Ken to go someplace, tell him that no one goes there.”

— Eileen Sullivan-Marx, Nurse Practitioner

“We can't just talk about work at a party. We might just have had a terrible experience. Your life is a little bit different. Physicians, nurses and police understand.”

— Eileen Sullivan-Marx, Nurse Practitioner

What’s next

Ken Marx plans to continue his volunteer work at the Community Volunteers in Medicine clinic in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, where he provides medical care to underserved patients in his local community.

The takeaway

This East Goshen couple's extraordinary commitment to global health care, even in the face of significant personal risk and hardship, serves as an inspiration to all. Their work has saved countless lives and improved the well-being of individuals and communities around the world, demonstrating the power of individuals to make a profound difference.