International Health
With the support of UIHC staff Dr. Mary Wilson, Uchenna Ikediobi made contacts with Dr. Edgar Carvahlo in Salvador, Bahia in Northeast Brazil where she spent two months exploring her interest in infectious diseases and tropical medicine.
“By traveling to the areas of the world that are most endemic to certain tropical diseases (leishmaniasis, leprosy), I was able to better appreciate the efforts of local healthcare workers to combat these diseases and improve overall clinical outcomes. Having this experience was better than reading about these tropical diseases in a book. I was able to "see" the patients affected, hear about their personal stories, diagnose them, provide treatment and follow up of their conditions.” - Uchenna Ikediobi, MD
“During my second year of residency, I had the opportunity to spend 3 weeks working in a rural clinic for underserved populations in Guatemala. I found this experience helpful in a variety of ways, but mostly because it showed me a different perspective of providing care. Even with few resources, the physicians and nurses at this clinic were able to provide efficient, evidence-based, compassionate health care to a large population. They managed to diagnose and treat a wide range of medical issues without depending on labs and tests in the way many of us have become accustomed to during our training. I also had the opportunity to study Spanish as well as Latin American culture which I believe also makes me better prepared as a physician in an ever diversifying country.” - Jenn Schubert, D.O.
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