Wiesbaden

Nothing like a visit to Wiesbaden on the way home to get into the Christmas spirit!

Kenya and Ethiopia December 2019

December 3-6, 2019

December 3-6, 2019

It has been a full week!  Our ENT surgeons took care of pediatric patients in the OR at Cure and adult patients at a local government hospital.  Each day we had local Ethiopian ENT residents and young faculty present to observe and assist.  In addition, our plastic surgeon worked with Cure’s Ethiopian plastic surgeon and also at the government hospital.  We saw patients in clinic, evaluated ears and airways and made recommendations for follow up care.

Our audiologists took care of patients at Cure and at the School for the Deaf where we have been working for many years.  They did audiograms, fit hearing aids, and evaluated patients.

Our anesthesiology team took care of patients at Cure and at a different government hospital alongside Cure’s anesthesia team and a local Ethiopian anesthesiologist and her team.

All in all we saw more than 100 patients in clinic, completed more than 100 audiology exams and cared for more than 30 surgical patients in the OR.

We also participated in lots of educational activities. Ethiopian ENT, Anesthesiology and Plastic Surgery residents worked alongside of us in all OR and clinic settings Our ENT team provided a skills lab for Ethiopian ENT residents and also did board exams with graduating residents.  Our audiology team did lectures for the Ethiopian ENT residents.  Our anesthesiology team did lectures for Ethiopian anesthetists.

I spent 48 hours in Kenya where I am working with others to support a Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship program in Nairobi, where the first Ethiopian Anesthesiologist is now training and to mentor other recent graduates of the program.  I also traveled to Kijabe Kenya to visit the AIC Kijabe Hospital where many of my colleagues are participating in training of African surgeons and anesthetists.  We are working towards starting an Anesthesiology residency training program there in 2021.  I also was privileged to visit Cure Kenya.

It was a busy, full and fun week.  Our team enjoyed dinners together at a local cultural restaurant and at the family of one of our team members.  I got to see many of my Ethiopian colleagues for extended conversations and fellowship and meals.  We participated in and strengthened long-term educational efforts and we saw old friends and made new ones!  We were welcomed heartily everywhere we went, and it will be hard to leave.  Most of us leave late Friday night and we will leave part of our hearts in Ethiopia!

December 1-3, 2019

December 2, 2019

December 2, 2019

Our main activity today was running a large ENT clinic at Cure.  Our 6 ENT surgeons, our plastic surgeon and our 4 audiologists were quite busy screening and evaluating patients, both new and follow up.  Overall they saw about 80 patients in clinic, did 15 audiology exams and hearing tests and fit 10 hearing aids.

Two anesthesiologists went to a nearby government hospital to work with one of our Ethiopian anesthesiologist colleagues.  I worked in the OR with the Cure plastic surgeon.

It is great to see friends that we have worked with for years and enjoy the long-standing relationships we have built over imte.

It is sunny and 70 degrees here, and because of the climate there are many beautiful flowers scattered around the hospital and other places in town.

The rest of the week will include OR and clinic at Cure, OR at a local government hospital, evaluations at the School for the Deaf and education and teaching sessions for Ethiopian ENT and Anesthesiology providers.  I will also be taking a brief side trip to Kenya to visit some educational and training programs there.

Ethiopia December 2019

December 1, 2019

This is the 20^th trip for Healing the Children, Greater Philadelphia to Addis Ababa Ethiopia.  We are a group of 17 from around the world.  We have 6 ENT surgeons, 4 audiologists, 3 anesthesiologists, one plastic surgeon and 3 administrative support members.  We come from PA, NJ, Delaware, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Texas, California, Alaska, and The Netherlands!  Today our ENT team saw some adult patients with the local ENT surgeons, some went to church, some to the National Museum.  I spent the afternoon with a dear Anesthesiologist friend and her family.  Tomorrow – OR and clinic and a visit to another local hospital.