As a 4th year medical student I'm presently on my elective time. Which means I'm chasing back and forth across Canada doing electives at different sites in (primarily) cardiac surgery.
The final four weeks of elective (Nov 23 - Dec 20) I've opted to do in Kathmandu Nepal at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. Thus this blog. Here I hope to learn about the healthcare system in a non-Western setting and hope to apply those lessons to future volunteer / outreach work as a physician.
Why Nepal? It's pretty? It's there? Both good reasons. But really it's because my anatomy professor had taught there previously and she graciously put me in touch with a former student Dr. SA. Dr. SA is Nepal trained, Toronto fellowship trained critical care physician who is now trying to bring ICUs to Nepal. His organization, the Nepal Critical Care Development Foundation, strives to establish a true Intensive Care Unit in Nepal where the sickest patients can be cared for in a multi-disciplinary team. See Dr. SA's article on the need for ICUs in Nepal. Also check out their Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/nccdf/timeline or website: www.nccdfnepal.org
To support NCCDF I am also collecting both money and equipment to bring on my trip. They are presently in the process of setting up online donations. For now, if you would like to donate please contact me to arrange it and I will bring the donations with me.
So where am I on prepping for the trip?
Nepal visa? check
Flights? check. After much searching found out I can do Toronto-Istanbul-Kathmandu with Turkish Airlines. All other options went through Europe-India and on. Fine if minimal baggage. I'm hoping to bring a suitcase of food and a second of supplies!
Accommodation: check. Thanks to NCCDF.
So what's left?
Well as I'll be swinging through India for a friends traditional wedding on the way back, need an Indian visa. And then Turkish visa for 4 days in Istanbul on the return. But more on those later.
So where am I on prepping for the trip?
Nepal visa? check
Flights? check. After much searching found out I can do Toronto-Istanbul-Kathmandu with Turkish Airlines. All other options went through Europe-India and on. Fine if minimal baggage. I'm hoping to bring a suitcase of food and a second of supplies!
Accommodation: check. Thanks to NCCDF.
So what's left?
Well as I'll be swinging through India for a friends traditional wedding on the way back, need an Indian visa. And then Turkish visa for 4 days in Istanbul on the return. But more on those later.
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