Author: TEAM IOWD

Team members were Drs. Sharon Knight, David Glazier, Kaytan Amrute, Abner Korn , Tam Le, Aditya Dash, Jim Greenberg, Michael Yaker; Anesthesia Nurse, Professor Janet Dewan; Nurses Suzy Arencibia, Njoki Ng’ang’a, Melanie Haller and Louise Gilbert; and Anesthesia Students, Anad Thomas and Erin Crist.

Participating Rwandan doctors were Dr. Victor Mivumbi, Dr. Ramses Ramazani, Dr. Sadoscar Hakizana and Dr. George Kabeja, Dr. Aicha Uwamahoro, Dr. Ingrid Freya-Ngendahayo, Dr. Arlette Irakoze and Medical Student Miguel Gasakore.

Our April mission included IOWD “regulars”, Dr. Karolynn Echols, Dr. Briana Walton, Dr. Sharon Knight, Dr. Cynthia Hall, Dr. Roberta Blandon, Dr. Ralph Chesson, Dr. Scott Eder, Dr. Elizabeth Erekson, Dr. Fatai Ilupeju, Professor Janet Dewan, and Nurses, Evan Epper and Jacqueline Green.

New to this large group was Dr. Gina Sternschuss, Dr. Tyler Hartman, Dr. Stacey Knox; Nurses Anne Patrick and Barbara Nalley; Anesthesia Nurses, Heather Herbowy, David Dirito and Jessica Hartman and students Elly Dewan and Almog Cohen.

Based on a program that involves calling our patients who had been treated at the previous mission, we had over a 50% return of women for follow-up exams. The Rwandan medical students are doing a fabulous job contacting all of these patients and urging them to return, despite travels from long distances.

The IOWD January team included Dr. Daniel Brodie, Dr. Elizabeth Babin, Dr. Eric Fassler, Dr. Star Hampton, Dr. Josh Holden, Dr. David McDermott, Dr. Tim McKinney, Dr. Saifuddin Mama, Dr. Greg Owens, Dr. Kristi Pielstick, Dr. Anjali Saqi, Dr. Yonas Tesfaye, Dr. Blair Washington, Dr. Yong Tao Zheng and Anesthesia Nurses, Rebekah Cummings and Kathryn Phares. Suzy Arencibia was the only registered Nurse to join us on this trip. Fortunately for the fistula team, Suzy had everything under control!

We no longer were able use the building that had housed our patients in April and October 2010, but the Ministry of Health came to our rescue and set up two large tents for the women! Exam rooms in the Maternity area at Kibagabaga were assigned to us…and we began our work examining the patients.

The Rwandan medical students had called all the patients from October and reminded them to return for follow-up exams. Many did so…and so many women expressed their gratitude for the successful surgeries that now allowed them to live a normal life.