When We Come To It

Happy 2025 to you all! We have returned for another round in Tanzania! The team this year
begins with two chief residents, Dr. Ameen and Dr Virge from Wake Forest and Charlotte.
Jennifer, as always, is helping coordinate and keeping the machine running.
We are a bit delayed getting the blog going this year as we’ve had some Internet issues making
it difficult to connect for anything other than simple messages.
This year is especially exciting as some of the residents that we have worked with for the past
several years have been hired on as staff here at the hospital. I would consider this phase 2 of
our work here as now these young staff have the opportunity to pass on some tools and
techniques that they have hopefully learned. Will we see a dedication to lifelong learning?
This hope was tested today as we entered into our first case, a tibial plateau fracture. One of
our favorite former residents, Dr. Johnson, was scrubbed in as a staff physician. He and our
team worked very well together, sharing thoughts, practicing good surgical technique, and
asking questions to each other in front of the younger residents. It was so awesome to
participate in a friendly back-and-forth between surgeons as we discussed possible options
and best plans. Dr. Johnson’s shining example trickled down to the KCMC residents in the
case, and it was truly the best first surgical case for the start of a trip that I could have asked
for.
Many times, my lectures and teaching here focus on the importance of being able to admit
when you are wrong or don’t know it all. If you’re able to do this, then you can open yourself up
to learn new ideas. Today I observed this in practice! Very excited to see where this leads.
Fingers crossed!!