I will be returning to Mwanza, Tanzania to work at Bugando Medical Center. This will be my fourth time at Bugando as part of a long-term relationship with them since I was a resident. I hold virtual lectures for their registrars (interns) and participate in tumor boards and research projects intermittently. I spend two weeks per year on the ground there and have self-paid my prior two trips. I will provide continuing education there by rounding and having in-person lectures with their registrars.
The health care team members as well as patients and their families will benefit. I have a long history of working with this group and population and have established relationships there.
The expected impact will be continuous improvement in care delivery for pediatric oncology patients at Bugando. Being in person each year further solidifies the ongoing relationship and continues to build trust.
I spent two weeks at Bugando Medical Centre is Mwanza, Tanzania. Bugando is a tertiary referral hospital with many consulting services and also serves as a teaching hospital with a medical school and multiple residency programs. This was my fourth time volunteering at Bugando in Pediatric Oncology. My first trip was in 2019 and it has been amazing to see the hospital and program continue to grow. There is now a dedicated inpatient and outpatient Pediatric Oncology space, procedure room, and many more staff dedicated to Pediatric Oncology. I spent the majority of my time rounding on the ward with approximately 15 patients per day with a variety of different diagnoses from leukemias to solid tumors. I was also able to lead two lectures teaching the staff about cell morphology and flow cytometry related to pediatric leukemias. It was a great trip with continued partnership between their staff and myself as we look toward the future in improving outcomes for pediatric oncology patients with hopes to start a bone marrow transplant program in the future. I plan to continue to go back for approximately two weeks yearly as well as participate in weekly tumor board and other meetings with Bugando staff.
