July 11, 2016
Jade Stafford, MD, participated in Emory's Global Health Residency Scholars Program. This international elective offers senior residents a four-week rotation in Ethiopia, where they participate in clinical and educational activities. Dr. Stafford joined our faculty as a general ob/gyn in September 2016.
Dr. Stafford's reflections on her experience:
The chance to participate in the Global Health Residency Scholars program (GHRSP) was a unique and unforgettable opportunity. I personally experienced a breadth of activities while in Ethiopia including participating in medical student education and testing, observing unique and specialized surgical procedures, and participating in daily team rounds with the residents and attendings of Addis Ababa University.
These experiences piqued my interest in a quality improvement project regarding use of the WHO surgical safety checklist within the operating room. With this interest, I was able to give lectures at both Tikur Anbassa and Zewditu hospitals on the importance of and key implementation techniques for the surgical safety checklist. These lectures were well received by residents, attendings and operating room staff. One AAU resident in particular took interest in continuing this project and one Emory resident planning to travel in 2016-2017 will check on the status and help propel this project forward even further.
Outside of the program there were many opportunities for fun and exploration. Travelling to cultural sites with Dr. Horowitz and other residents in the Radiology department were amongst the most fun extracurricular activities. On weekends, travel within Ethiopia was awe-inspiring; favorite locations included Lalibela, Bahir Dar, Awassa, and Harar. I personally took a trip to Lalibela and experienced the amazing monolithic rock-cut churches, which is an experience I will never forget.
The opportunity to travel to Ethiopia with GHRSP is one that I will always be grateful for, and I aspire to continue to pursue opportunities to continue international health endeavors.