“I’m a super refined specialist. What can I do to serve the world’s most poor?” We at INMED regularly hear questions of this nature from healthcare professionals whose expertise is narrowly focused, and often also highly reliant upon technology and other specialists. Douglas Blackall, an academic pathologist at the University of Arkansas, carried similar questions when he participated in the 2010 INMED Professional Certificate Course International Medicine & Public Health. Where did Dr. Blackall find an application for his particular skills? He writes…
“Hi Nicholas! Here’s a quick, bulleted summation of our lives over the past 5 years or so:
- Pathologist at Oasis Hospital in the United Arab Emirates 2011-2013
- Pathologist at a national hospital in Rwanda, southern Africa, 2013-2015
- Graduated with the MPH degree in May 201
- Worked on a CDC grant in Liberia, West Africa, from June-August 2016, focused on post-Ebola health system strengthening
- Currently a faculty Pathologist at St. Louis University (SLU) School of Medicine
- Will travel to Senegal in June to scope out possibilities for service conjunction with a SLU researcher living in Senegal
“So, those are the highlights, Nicholas. Life has been challenging but very rich at the same time. Please let me know if I can be of any service to you and INMED. After all, I consider our affiliation crucial to what has transpired in my life over the past 10 years.”
As Douglas Blackall experienced, most any specialty can be effectively utilized in low-resource settings. The pivotal juncture is one’s willingness to explore, adapt, and enjoy.