Him?

March 4th, 2017 by jasongulati

My name is Jason Gulati, I’m a fourth-year medical student at AT Still University in Kirksville, Missouri (located right in the beating heart of Middle America). I’m finishing my clerkships in metropolitan Detroit, Michigan, once the bustling capital of the auto industry now racked with poverty as the industry collapsed and the inhabitants were abandoned. My experiences there serve largely as my basis of comparison as I head into Uganda in March.

 

Why Uganda? I would be lying if I said this had been my first choice, and let me be clear that this statement is not a slight at what has so far been a wonderful place to be. I have been carefully exploring the idea of ethics in medical outreach and the importance of cultural competency for participants. As a first-generation Thai immigrant, In had hoped to be in Thailand where I am significantly more familiar with local customs, language, and culture. But as luck sometimes goes, the site was full and they graciously offered to take me at The Surgery, located here in Kampala. Despite best efforts to research what I was getting myself into, I knew almost nothing about this country, or even the region. But, having never been on the African continent before, I figured my luck drew this way for a reason.

 

I have a lot of experience in medical outreach projects at home and a lot of experience traveling the globe. I have also assisted other students in finding outreach projects that matched their interests. But this is my first time leaving to participate in another nation’s healthcare system. My hope is to come away with a great sense for Ugandan culture and learn about their healthcare delivery systems. I would like to think I can learn things that I can apply back home, and in turn impart useful and sustainable practices here. I intend to continue exploring issues in global health into my residency and afterwards (global health and general outreach opportunities were a huge part of my rank order list creation for residency… the results of which I will receive while I’m here in Uganda).