People of AMPATH: Olive Akunga, Registrar
Olive Akunga, a registrar from Moi University and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital pursuing a Master of Medicine in internal medicine, spent several weeks at Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis before the COVID-19 pandemic cut her North American clinical rotations short and forced her return to Kenya. Despite its abrupt end, Dr. Akunga shares the highlights of her international rotations:
Tell us about yourself:
I am from Nairobi and am the youngest of four siblings. I recently got married and my husband is a medical doctor who specializes in vaccines. I was determined to become a medical doctor since I was 8 or 9 years old. I knew I wanted to help people and make a difference in my country and I just loved the look of the white coat and stethoscope!
Dr. Olive Akunga
My dad and mom recognized my potential and stopped at nothing to give me the best chance at education which led to my admission in the University of Nairobi for my Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.
After graduation and licensure, I worked as a research medical officer and completed my Master of Science in Epidemiology from University of London - London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. I have a special interest in learning how and who diseases affect. In addition to clinical practice, I hope to be on the front lines in implementation science which bridges the gap between routine patient care, research and health policy/healthcare systems.
Tell us about your rotations at Eskenazi Hospital:
My rotation was PHENOMENAL! I came with high expectations and they were surpassed! I rotated in the pulmonary and critical care departments. I learned something every day. I was privileged to interact directly with consultants, fellows and my colleagues – the residents.
I appreciated the differences in diseases patterns and determinants between the U.S. and Kenya. I also really enjoyed the tutorials and conferences organized by the department. The most exciting experience was observing highly specialized procedures in the pulmonary unit, which proved that technological advancements are a game changer in how we practice medicine, because they cut time-to-diagnosis leading to early intervention and better outcomes. One other thing that was striking was the goals of care discussions, patient education and follow-up programme which really enabled the patients to understand their disease and be part of their treatment journey.
I would tell my colleagues that, given the opportunity, it is definitely an experience that they should all explore.
What makes the AMPATH partnership special?
First of all, the contribution that AMPATH has made to healthcare, especially in western Kenya, is immeasurable! The approach taken by AMPATH to improve health care access in Kenya is what makes it special, as it has managed to build capacity amongst Kenyans through training and exposure. A good example of this is the medical students’ exchange programme and various training opportunities granted to faculty at Moi University as well as other affiliates. This has equipped Kenyan medical personnel with practical knowledge and skills to continually improve healthcare in Kenya. It reminds me of the fish versus fishing rod analogy.
How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect your experience?
This was very unique, and not just because it cut my rotation at Eskenazi short by a week and a half!
I got to see how the U.S. exercises emergency preparedness in the face of a worldwide pandemic. I was also privileged to also get additional training in the use of personal protective equipment (small facts that are not so obvious), case identification for testing and other training. The COVID-19 pandemic brought with it a lot of anxiety amongst medics and non-medics alike, understandably so. The biggest learning point is that medicine is still in an evolving phase and researchers still have a lot to do as far as prediction of disease patterns and development of preventive and curative strategies.
Did you do anything fun outside of the hospital?
I enjoyed so many activities! I visited a few museums in Indianapolis. The ones that stood out for me were the Medical History Museum and Newfields (art) Museum. The Medical History Museum was a bit creepy but very interesting with so much to learn and appreciate about how far medicine as a science and art has evolved! I also loved the Newfields Museum where I was lucky to see much sought after artwork of a famous Japanese artist, which was showcasing in Indianapolis at the time.
Another highlight was visiting California which had been on my bucket list for a long time! The weather there was much friendlier than Indiana and a lot like Kenya. I enjoyed the bus tours, because you learn so much history and see so many places in just a few hours. Also crossing the golden gate bridge was icing on the cake!
My Indiana / Eskenazi experience impacted me both professionally and personally in more ways than I can count. I met many wonderful people and learnt lessons that I will carry with me for a long time. I am a better doctor and person because I came. I remain forever grateful for the opportunity!
Dr. Akunga and her team at Eskenazi Hospital.