I joined the Trauma Unit at the University of Witwatersrand Medical School, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesberg Academic Hospital at a volunteer faculty surgeon for a few weeks last month. It was my first time in South Africa although I had worked and travelled in Uganda and Mozambique before.
I chose to spend some time at this particular hospital for several reasons. This hospital and it's sister facility (Baragwanath Hospital) are world renown as high volume trauma centers and have produced many international leaders in trauma care such as Dr. Demetriades (Chief of Trauma at LA County/USC Hospitals) and Dr. Velmahos (Chief of Trauma at MGH), among others. As such, these two facilities draw visiting faculty, trainees and medical students from around the world. As a Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Fellow at the Brigham, I was drawn to visit, observe and participate in these settings which trained some of the most remarkable surgeons in my field.
Furthermore, I am particularly interested in how systems of trauma and emergency services are developed, both locally in the United States and globally. Through a collaboration between UCSF and Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda, I was able to work on injury-related research during my residency and plan to continue work along those lines in Rwanda in the upcoming years through BWH/PIH. Thus I have wanted to learn about how the South African health system is set up to address trauma and emergency services and determine what lessons I can gather for my upcoming work in Rwanda.
Here are a few photos from my first day at Joberg General. It was a fantastic institution to visit and a great group of faculty and residents to work with during my three weeks there.
More postings to come about the details of my time there....
Sudha Jayaraman MD MSc
Fellow, Trauma Burns and Surgical Critical Care
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Charlotte Maxeke Johannesberg Academic Hospital (Joberg General)
Bedside in the Trauma ICU
