I plan to travel to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi to take part in a medical mission focused on emergency care in a resource-limited setting. While I’m there, I’ll work alongside the emergency department team, sharing my training and experience while also learning directly from local physicians and medical staff who work with resilience in a resource limited environment every day.
This experience is especially meaningful because Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital is the only training site for emergency medicine residents in Malawi, making it a vital hub for developing the country’s future emergency care workforce.
I currently train at Prisma Health Midlands, which has a long-standing partnership with Queen’s. During this visit, I plan to follow up on several previous projects, with a particular focus on ultrasound education, nerve block techniques for treating acute pain, and updates on best practices. By strengthening these areas, I hope to support sustainable improvements in patient care while deepening a mutually beneficial partnership.
This project intends to benefit the people of Malawi, especially those who depend on Queen’s as their only option for advanced medical care. Malawi has a population of over 20 million with a large portion depending on public healthcare and experiencing significant systemic disparities in access. The WHO list of top causes of mortality include many reversable and treatable conditions. By working with local medical staff to strengthen emergency care, this project aims to meet patients at their most vulnerable moment and ensure that reaching the hospital truly offers hope. Through partnership, this project will also mutually benefit local healthcare providers as we share clinical experience and learn together.
My goal in going to Malawi is multifaceted. I hope to make an immediate impact on the local population presenting to Queen’s emergency department with acute illness and trauma. At the same time, I aim to grow both professionally and personally through this experience. Working in a resource-limited setting will challenge me to function efficiently without reliance on advanced diagnostics or subspecialty support. I believe this environment will strengthen my clinical reasoning, sharpen my physical examination skills, and reinforce the importance of prioritizing high-value, evidence-based interventions. Learning to deliver effective care with limited resources will help me become a more thoughtful steward of medical resources and a more adaptable physician in high-acuity or adverse situations. As someone who has never traveled to Africa, I also view this opportunity as a humbling cultural experience. I look forward to learning from a new community, gaining insight into a different healthcare system, and broadening my understanding of how culture and context shape medical care and daily life.
