My time spend at the Ishaka Adventist Hospital in Uganda was an incredible opportunity for me as a first year medical student. Going on a SIMS trip between first and second year was an invaluable experience and also one of the reasons I chose

Loma Linda for medical school.

 

            Our time at the hospital was spent working with the two Filipino missionary doctors working there, Dr. Manuel, an ob-gyn doctor, and Dr. Valenzuela, who was a general surgeon. Not only were we able to assist in surgeries, but also I had the opportunity of performing a complete C-section on my own, with Dr. Manuel’s supervision. It was a truly exhilarating and amazing experience, which I will never forget. Along with helping out in the hospital, our team was able to participate in the HIV mobile clinic that wentout into the surrounding communities to test for HIV and give follow-up checks to HIV-positive patients who could not afford the trip to IAH from their homes.

 

This summer in Uganda changed my life in so many ways. I enjoyed the time spent in the hospital with all the hands-on experience, that medical students yearn so strongly for, and I also enjoyed interacting with the people of Uganda to learn more about them and their culture. Participating in worship each morning at the church with all the hospital staff and making friends with the nurses and other staff at IAH was a real blessing. I was reminded again and again of why I ever wanted to go to medical school. I love interacting with people and I’m excited about the opportunity to minister to people and demonstrate Christ’s love using the healing power of medicine.  I regained the perspective that I had begun to lose sight of during the grueling hours of study this first year in the classroom. Now I can continue my medical education, always keeping in the foreground of my mind my experiences this summer, and with a renewed motivation to work hard so that I can become the best doctor I can be, in future service of others.