Pilgrimage to the Land of Galaxies and Glaciers: Part I

On By UVM Robert Larner, M.D. College of MedicineIn Climb For a CauseLeave a comment

Written by Dr. Majid Sadigh, Trefz Family Endowed Chair in Global Health at WCHN and Director of the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine Global Health Program

My first climb up Kilimanjaro in 2002 was driven by the memory of my father, as well as a desire to experience walking into thin air, seeing the 22,000-year-old glaciers, and appreciating the diversity of life and ecosystems on the roof of Africa. Though the inspiration behind my two most recent climbs has been to gather money and build awareness about global health issues - with last year’s hike raising funds for a microbiology lab in rural Uganda, and this year’s for the global health training of nurses - my time on the mountain is deeply personal.

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A Positive Aura

On By UVM Robert Larner, M.D. College of MedicineIn Dominican RepublicLeave a comment

Written by Jose Calderon '22

Even if I had the option of a warm shower, I wouldn’t do it. Cold showers are best given the climate here in the Dominican Republic. It’s a lovely home where we’re staying, and the best part is the host family and how welcome they make us feel. This past Sunday we attended Zoe’s (my host families’ granddaughter) fourth birthday party. It was a Beauty and the Beast theme and it was lovely. It reminded me of all the Spanish birthday parties that I’ve been to and I was glad I got to sing along as they wished her a happy birthday.

The Value of Seemingly Simple Skills

On By UVM Robert Larner, M.D. College of MedicineIn ThailandLeave a comment

Dr. Zhou Li, Medical Resident at Norwalk Hospital

Due to a shortage of doctors and large patient volume, the MDs here are well-rounded with superb hands-on skills in all procedures. Even senior medical students in their sixth (final) year - called "externs" - regularly handle procedures that are usually designated to specialists in North America, such as endotracheal intubation, and even perform simple surgeries such as Cesarean sections or appendectomies as the only surgeon, as opposed to the first assistant!

The Fight For Gender Parity

On By UVM Robert Larner, M.D. College of MedicineIn Global Women's HealthLeave a comment

Written by Dr. Anne Dougherty, Assistant Professor at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, and Founder and Director of the UVM Global Women’s Health Education Program

Originally presented at the inaugural Western Connecticut Health Network Global Health Conference
My focus is on Global Women’s Health, but I also have another role at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine as the Gender Equity Liaison within the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. This talk brings these two hats I wear together in a broad overview. 

Did You Know That You Had It In You?

On By UVM Robert Larner, M.D. College of MedicineIn UgandaLeave a comment

Written by Jamidah Nakato, PhD, Assistant Lecturer at Makerere University

When I was growing up, those around me would often ask, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” This question sounded strange in the context of a country characterized by limited resources and a high mortality rate. Many of Uganda’s citizens believe in living in the moment and letting tomorrow take care of itself, as they understand the many risks out there and the reality that one can die at any time. Having a vision feels futile.

Pride and Pericardiocentesis

On By UVM Robert Larner, M.D. College of MedicineIn Global HealthLeave a comment

Written by Dr. Marcia Glass, Program Director at Tulane Hospice & Palliative Medicine Fellowship and Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at Tulane University School of Medicine

There are no paintings on the walls in the hospitals I have worked at in the capital of Liberia.  The bareness of the walls parallels the limited equipment I have on hand.   Listening to some of these patients, or looking at their X-rays without the benefit of modern technology, I get the feeling I am seeing pathology in its most extreme form – the way people saw it when the diseases we now treat routinely in the West were first discovered.