I arrived Saturday morning. I met my host family, two wonderful Haitian doctors. They are amazing people: bright, engaging, and gracious. I am so lucky to have the chance to meet them.
I am here with a neonatologist, Alan Picarillo. We went to the hospital today for rounds, and a teaching session. Rounds was somewhat abbreviated as it is Sunday. I was very nervous about teaching. Pediatric rheumatology is a subject that can be difficult to teach. English is not the first language of most of hte residents, and my Haitian creole is getting stronger by the day, but still not up to lecture giving performance level. But the teaching was great. The residents were engaged and interested. They asked so many great questions and kept the talks going with their enthusiasm. I am so excited to teach the rest of the week. We have already had a few challenging cases presented to us. we are working hard to try and help take care of these beautiful children.
I spent most of the day with a pediatrician. She has worked in Haiti her whole life. We spent a lot of time talking about our work, and what drives us. We had a lot of shared passion for serving underserved populations, working in situations which challenge us, and providing social justice. These doctors could choose to leave Haiti. They could head to the States and live a protected and comfortable life. But they work tirelessly every day to improve the health of Haitian children. Their dedication blows me away. There are angels on this earth, and sometimes you find them in the most unlikely places.
Alan teaching the residents-I can't make it upload in the correct orientation.
I like this picture of the smushed mosquito on my journal article. Stamping out malaria, one mosquito at a time.
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