Kiel Beltinck, Brian Queen, Dan Bouchard, Dave Hotwagner, Daniella Frank, Dan Woodall, Amanda Freschauf, Sarah Servinsky, 2011 (w/pictures “Malawi 2011,” “Elephant”)
Things We Wish We Had Known
You can barter at the market, but these are guidelines on how to survive hassling at the wood market.
Group II 2011
Adam Hung, Colleen Hoehne, Brendan Collins, Julie Kozlowski, Amy Corrigan, Kelli Brackema, Chris Sci, Maggi Lewis
We went weekly to Noah’s Ark Orphan Care to hang out with the kids. They love to read books, and we taught them “Head Shoulders Knees and Toes,” Duck Duck Goose, Red Rover. They love if you teach lessons, too. It’s super easy to get on a minibus for a quick afternoon.
Directions:
From Blantyre Market minibus hub, ask for Chrimba bus (they are usually toward the front of the van lines). Ask to get off at Chiweto Stage. Should only cost 100-130 kwacha. It’s best of you have those destinations (Chrimba/Chiweto) written on paper to show them. Should be a 20-minute ride. Call Nancy, 0888515248, when you get off and someone will walk to meet you. Only a minute from the road.
Nancy is a super-sweet grandmotherly missionary from Flint, Mich. Loves visitors.
Erin Darlington, Jessica Johnson, Candace Johnson, Emma Rodgers, Sarah Schrauben, Jennifer Saultz, and featuring Karen Geukers, research
Medicine
Medicine was a great experience, but be warned … there’s much less structure than you’re used to and navigating the rotation takes quite a while. My best advice would be to figure out who your intern is on Day 1 and attach yourself to him/her. Spend some afternoons on 4B — the admissions ward — ideally with one of the interns on call. You will get a chance to do lumbar punctures and taps, although without anesthesia. Also, set aside time to do clinics. Kaposi Sarcoma clinic is worth going to at least once.
Pediatrics
Jennifer Saultz
The Peds dept. is HUGE which means that the sky is the limit OR you get lost easy. Avoid this by deciding on a clinic that you can do every week with the same consultant. I regularly went to sickle cell clinic and neurology clinic. Both were great experiences. Cardiology clinic with Dr. Kennedy is amazing but very popular.
OB/GYN
Erin Darlington
Don’t worry! You’ll be fine!
If there are other students, attach yourself to a smart 5th year to get the swing of things. If there are no Malawian students, find an intern who likes to teach.
Dr. Taulo is NOT the head of the dept. even though he acts like it. He’s a funny guy and his bark is worse than his bit. He likes it if you do a presentation on a common OB/GYN topic seen in the U.S. not seen here.
Surgery
This rotation can be as laid back/hands off as you want OR if you’re a real gunner you can get involved if you let them know.
ALL females change in the nurses room down in the theater. You can get samosas in the nurses room for 20 kwacha each!
Endoscopy is at the END of 2B, through a sketchy looking door when you think you’ve gone too far.
University of Maryland researchers
June-Aug,