I am a graduating Pediatric resident in my program’s global health track and am passionate about improving care for children worldwide. For my project, I will rotate in the Emergency Department at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the country’s main referral center for pediatric emergencies. I aim to improve care for children presenting with febrile illness by identifying how clinical presentations and laboratory markers predict outcomes.
Under the mentorship of MNH pediatric faculty, I will analyze existing patient data comparing vital signs, symptoms, physical exams, and laboratory markers between febrile children who required admission and those safely discharged, including two-week follow-up outcomes. These findings will inform the development of a clinical decision pathway to guide disposition decisions for febrile children. During my rotation I will collaborate with MNH faculty and staff to review results, refine recommendations, and discuss implementation strategies that fit local practice. I will also conduct clinical observership in the Emergency Department to better contextualize the data and understand real-world presentations of febrile illnesses.
This project will directly serve pediatric patients and their families in Dar es Salaam and surrounding regions, focusing on those presenting with febrile illness. I will also collaborate closely with local staff including physicians, nurses, and other learners throughout the project, fostering mutual learning.
This work will enhance the timely and appropriate management of febrile illnesses in children at MNH by identifying key predictors of outcomes. The resulting clinical pathway will help streamline decision-making, reduce unnecessary admissions, and direct limited hospital resources toward the most critical laboratory tests. The clinical pathway tool will remain available to local staff for ongoing use and adaptation following my global rotation. Finally, this project will broaden my view of pediatric care globally and allow for a deeper understanding of global health and cultural considerations, making me a better pediatrician for all my patients.
I had an incredible trip learning from the residents, fellows, nurses, and other staff in the Emergency Department, and it would not have been possible without the Doximity Foundation!
This experience provided context for my research, and allowed me the opportunity to share my findings with the staff directly providing care to the pediatric patients. I assisted with simulation trainings for the Pediatric Emergency Fellows and Residents. I was also able to work with like minded providers who were rotating through the Emergency Department and share our experiences and ideas.
I am extremely grateful for Doximity Foundation for this opportunity to learn from all the incredible people at Muhimbili!
