Daffodils in London!

April 12-13

The week was full and flew by!

Our team of ENT physicians operated on 13 patients, and the Ethiopian ENT physicians joined in during the surgical care.  They saw at least 90 patients in clinics at Cure, a local government hospital and at the School for the Deaf.  They did an entire day of laboratory and simulation based training for the Ethiopian ENT residents.

The anesthesiologists participated in the care for all of the surgical patients at Cure including the ENT patients and orthopedic patients, at least 60 in total.  We gave lectures for three different groups of anesthesia providers at three different locations.

The audiology team cared for and evaluated patients at Cure and students at the School for the Deaf and did audiograms for 50 patients and fit hearing aids, including for an 11 month-old child who had never been able to hear before.

We were able to meet with leaders in ENT and Anesthesiology to discuss on-going relationships for education and clinical teaching for the future.

There was a trip to the local cultural restaurant for traditional food, music and dancing; there was shopping; there was coffee buying.

I left a day early to attend a meeting in London of the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA), of which I am a committee member as we continue to work towards ways to provide safe surgery and anesthesia around the world.

The Philadelphia based team-members traveled home together and we were greeted by a beautiful 80 degree spring day!  Sunday was cold, rainy and windy but it was a lovely welcome home greeting!

Now to start planning the next trip!

April 11

April 11

April 11, 2018

Our week continues to be full of activity.

Some of the ENT team had OR cases today and the anesthesia team cared for these patients as well as the orthopedic patients.  The other two anesthesiologists also gave some lectures for St. Paul’s Medical College anesthesia department.  In addition to Ethiopian orthopedic residents, we are doing clinical training for Ethiopian anesthesiology residents and also anesthetists.

The audiology team and the rest of the ENT team were at the School for the Deaf where they were evaluating all of the patients.  They hope to finish this by the end of the week.

It has been a good week for meeting new people but also for us to discuss ways to continue to support education and training and clinical care in ENT and anesthesia throughout the country.  There is some momentum to increase the numbers of providers in response to the great need, and with that goes much need for education and teaching.  I have really enjoyed spending time with several of the Ethiopian anesthesiologists I have gotten to know over the years as well as the anesthesiologists at Cure.

The rest of the week holds more surgery at Cure, clinics and also work at the School for the Deaf, clinical teaching in the OR, lectures and the customary trip to the local Cultural restaurant to enjoy local food, music and dancing.

April 10

April 10

We had a full day today.

The anesthesiology team was in the OR with the Cure anesthesia and orthopedic staff and all together we had about 20 patients.  They had a wide range of conditions including birth defects, injuries and burns.

The ENT team saw about 60 patients in clinic and arranged for surgery later in the week for some.  The audiologists saw patients at Cure and then went to the School for the Deaf.

The anesthesiology team had a lovely dinner at the home of Dr. Mary who is Cure’s anesthesiologist and medical director.

It has rained a little every day, but still the weather is mild and lovely.  We’ve already had some good laughs and we are really working together as a team.

Ethiopia April 2018

April 8-9, 2018 Ethiopia

This is my 17^th trip to Ethiopia!

My team this time is a large one – 16 of us.  We are 3 anesthesiologists, 5 ENT surgeons, 4 audiologists, 1 nurse, 1 medical student and 2 support staff/administrative personnel including our Healing the Children executive director.  

April 8^th was Orthodox Easter, so we got a chance to see some of the celebrations.  Many people out and about are dressed in traditional garments, and the city is quieter than usual.  Some businesses and the hospitals are open today, but it isn’t quite as busy. 

The other anesthesiologists and I went to visit two hospitals today where Ethiopian Anesthesiologist friends of mine work.  One is a smaller government hospital which is just getting organized as a regular hospital and the other Black Lion Hospital, the major university teaching hospital and medical school.  We took tours, gave some lectures, talked to the staff and looked at the daily operations.

The ENT and audiology teams did some hands on simulation and skills lab training for 18 ENT residents, and two of our ENT surgeons had a clinic at a local hospital.

We had a relaxing evening and have a full day tomorrow of ENT clinic and OR cases.

Easter in Ethiopia

Today is Easter in the Orthodox tradition and so it is Easter here today! A few of the team went to midnight mass on Saturday!

All of our team members are here and made it without issues. We are Anesthesiologists, ENT surgeons, audiologists, nurses, medical students and other support staff from all over the US and The Netherlands. Many of our team members have been here before.

Today some of us went to church to celebrate Easter, some to Cure Hospital to visit the patients, some to the Ethiopian National Museum and the top of the nearby mountain to look down on the city. I spent the afternoon with an Ethiopian Anesthesiologist friend and celebrated Easter with her and her family. We had a group dinner in the hotel.

Tomorrow we will do a variety of teaching sessions for anesthesia, ENT and audiology and visit a hospital.

Time for sleep!

On the road again

To Ethiopia for trip #17!