Craig Spencer, who tested positive for Ebola Thursday, is a New York emergency physician who recently worked with Doctors Without Borders treating patients in West Africa.

He is on the staff at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, which in a statement called him "a dedicated humanitarian .. who went to an area of medical crisis to help a desperately underserved population.''

"He is a committed and responsible physician who always puts his patients first,'' the hospital said in a statement. "He has not been to work at our hospital and has not seen any patients at our hospital since his return from overseas. Our thoughts are with him, and we wish him all the best at this time. ''
Spencer, 33, describes himself on his Linkedin page as a "fellow of international emergency medicine'' at the New York hospital. He speaks five languages including Chinese and studied language and literature at Henen University in China in 2006-2007 and received his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine.

He also has a masters in public health from Columbia University and did his undergraduate study at Johns Hopkins University.

According to his Facebook page, he left for West Africa via Brussels in mid-September. A photo shows him in full protective gear. He returned to Brussels Oct. 16.

"Off to Guinea with Doctors Without Borders," he wrote. "Please support organizations that are sending support or personnel to West Africa, and help combat one of the worst public health and humanitarian disasters in recent history."

The New York Daily News, citing unidentified sources, reported that the doctor had been seen at bowling spots in Willliamsburg, Brooklyn on Wednesday and had used Uber taxis. It said he lived with his fiance in an apartment in Harlem.