Visitors, June 2011

Mesfin Shibishi popped up one day while I was making rounds. Mesfin is an Ethiopian-American having immigrated to the U.S. a number of years ago. He currently is a PGY-IV ortho resident in Ohio. He was in Addis Ababa visiting his sister and stopped by MCM. We made rounds and discussed cases and the future of orthopaedics in Ethiopia. Mesfin is a fine young orthopaod, well trained and planning on returning to MCM when his schedule permits.

Don and Mesfin

Venke ByBerg is a trauma nurse from the University Hospital in Stavanger, Norway. She has been working for Trauma Care Ethiopia for the past 3 months.  She came to Ethiopia because of her experience with trauma care in Norway and wanted to help out our trauma care program and to experience a different culture. Venke works primarily in the ED, where her knowledge, experience, and kind and gentle nature is eagerly received.

Anita Rugland is a Norwegian nurse who previously worked with Venke in the ED in Norway. She currently works on an oil platform in the North Sea! In that location she does not have the ancillary help available as one does in Norway or the western world (e.g., no ambulance, no 911, no specialists). She came here for a visit to experience what trauma care is like with limited resources. I suspect our weather would be a draw as well!  Anita will participate in Trauma Day this week for hospitals in the city to teach personnel basics and finer points of trauma care. Her contribution is greatly appreciated.

Anita and Venke

 —Don