The Scar

Written by Bemen Habashi, MD, Clinical Educator at the Yale-Waterbury Internal Medicine Residency Program

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Five days into my attending role in the medical service ward in the U.S., one of my team’s patients unexpectedly had a cardiac arrest and passed away. It was a devastating moment. My colleagues and I went back to the medical records to discuss what could have gone wrong, but unfortunately he was very sick and came late in the course of his illness. 

Lessons Learned from Ugandan Women

Written by Joanna Pierce, University of Vermont Larner Class of Medicine Class of 2025

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My previous travels to Uganda and other countries helped ease the inevitable culture shock on arriving here. I had an idea of Ugandan culture and what to expect. I was familiar with boda-bodas and the taxi system. I had eaten my fair share of matoke and had experienced the excitement and beauty of visiting public markets. But as a female medical student, I have struggled with aspects of Ugandan gender roles.

Mzungu Learns from Uganda

Written by Bemen Habashi, MD, Clinical Educator at the Yale-Waterbury Internal Medicine Residency Program

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The Luganda word Mzungu means "white." You hear it a lot while walking in the streets. Though some may initially think it is a racist word, seeing children shout it happily gives a feeling of welcoming from the community. It is a good word from a Luganda standpoint. One should like to be a Mzungu in Uganda.

Roots of My Mango Sapling: Part II

Written by Justin Henningsen, PhD, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine Class of 2025

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Most people I’ve run into since returning understandably ask about my experiences. I’ve found it difficult to encapsulate my thoughts and feelings in a few words. Though this may be due to an inherent ineloquence on my part, there is simply too much to try to convey. 

Roots of My Mango Sapling: Part I

Written by Justin Henningsen, PhD, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine Class of 2025

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A few phrases are floating around in my mental milieu after returning: cultural competence, cultural humility, and the Dunning-Kruger effect. The latter is a concept from psychology which states that people who have some small degree of knowledge of a topic, but are not experts, tend to overestimate their knowledge.

The Katanga Community

Written by Hossein Akbarialiabad MD, MSc, Faculty Member at the Nuvance Health Global Health Academy

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The Katanga community is located in the middle of Uganda’s capital, Kampala, between Makerere University and Mulago National Referral Hospital. It has a population of around 5,000, of which two-thirds do not have a national identity card. A volunteer-run organization, Katanga 4 Kids educates and cares for around 50 children ranging from three to seventeen years old who live on the street. One classroom serves the role of school, stage, playground, and church. They stay in two dormitories, with three to a bed and many on the floor.

Mwanamugimu Nutrition Clinic at Mulago

Written by William Hsu, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine Class of 2025

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My second week in Uganda has continued to be a wonderful, welcoming, and incredibly informative learning experience. We have continued to see primarily orthopedic cases, but were able to visit the lab and imaging buildings alongside listening in on the HIV clinic, all of which have been very informative experiences.

Absorbing My Surroundings

Written by John (Jackson) Burke, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine Class of 2025

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What a week it has been since we arrived in Uganda. I think I am finally though the jet lag. I have a little more energy every day, yet I’m sure I will burn through it this weekend as we travel to Jinja to see the source of the Nile and explore the Mabira forest. My morale is much higher than it was when I arrived.

Boda-Bodas: A Bittersweet Transport Mode and a Silent Killer: Part II

Written by Matsiko Joshua, medical student at Makerere University College of Health Sciences

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When we included indirect boda-boda involvements, we discovered that boda-bodas were involved in more than 50% of all casualty admissions, meaning these causes alone bring in more cases than all other emergency causes combined. This data also doesn’t include those that pass away on impact or at the site of the accident.

Boda-Bodas: A Bittersweet Transport Mode and a Silent Killer: Part I

Written by Matsiko Joshua, medical student at Makerere University College of Health Sciences

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It is 8:36 PM when a 17-year-old male is rushed in a semi-conscious state with signs of multiple trauma after being involved in a boda-boda accident 18 hours ago. Primary and secondary surveys are immediately performed and the patient receives initial care to save his life.