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!