Long time, no see! Apologies for the interruption, but it's been an incredibly busy year. I concluded my research year at UCSF, then dove into a hectic schedule of orthopedic surgery rotations across Yale, San Francisco, and Boston. Shortly after, I plunged into the residency application process and interviews, consuming most of my time throughout fall and winter until the day before I departed for my month-long trip to Ghana. Amidst the chaos, I was fortunate to steal some moments of calm and cherish wonderful memories with friends and family, which I'll share some highlights of below.
Without further ado, please enjoy my latest Bone Deep musings on global health, orthopedics, and everything in between!
The planting of a seed
My first experience leaving the country was when I boarded a plane to Ghana 8 years ago. I had just completed my sophomore year at Stanford. I joined a group of students to work at a children’s hospital in Accra, where we also had the chance to interact with professionals from various major global health organizations such as WHO and USAID. Medicine had been a strong interest of mine since childhood, but this experience exposed me to new opportunities that I hadn’t previously considered. It marked my initial venture into global health, and following my experiences that summer I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.
Global health has many definitions, but for me the one that always resonated the most was this one.
“Global health is about achieving better health outcomes for vulnerable populations and communities around the world. Those who study or practice global health work to eliminate health disparities in these settings around the world through research, education and collaborative intervention.”
After my initial journey to Ghana, I engaged in projects related to mosquito-borne diseases in Costa Rica and explored tuberculosis treatment strategies for incarcerated populations in Brazil. Each endeavor brought forth fresh inquiries and formidable challenges, broadening my understanding of the diverse expertise required to ensure community well-being. While medical professionals like doctors and nurses are essential, I discovered the indispensable roles played by therapists, sanitation workers, policymakers, and various others in maintaining an effective healthcare system. Disruptions within this intricate system manifest in diverse forms, yet I couldn’t help but also appreciate the overlap between the problems I witnessed in my own backyard and the many amazing places I have been fortunate enough to see throughout my travels and work.
When I was a senior in high school I had to have my wisdom teeth removed, however with the public insurance I had no dentist in my local area would perform the extractions. My father had to take a day off work and drive me 90 minutes to a city where it could be performed. I was fortunate we could both find someone close and I had someone able to help ferry me back and forth. Now contrast my experience with that of the young patient that came to clinic last week, around the same age I was when I had my wisdom teeth removed. They had a growth roughly the size of a football directly above their knee. Based on imaging and biopsy results, it is very likely that this is myosarcoma, a rather rare malignant tumor of the muscle, that is growing in their quadriceps muscle. Despite the gravity of the situation, this patient had to travel approximately 6 hours to Accra to see someone who could potentially help them, and they had to perform this journey alone. The distance no doubt contributed to delays in their diagnosis (and likely treatment as well).
While the gravity and circumstances of our situations are clearly distinct, at their core lies a common challenge: difficulty in accessing care. The underlying reasons for this problem and the potential solutions are likely starkly different in these two environments, yet the shared experience remains palpable. What drives my passion for this work is the satisfaction I find in addressing these challenges. From the intriguing research questions we tackle to the meaningful relationships we forge, and the innovative, community-informed solutions we implement, there's a profound sense of fulfillment in contributing to the resolution of these issues. Every situation familiar, every solution unique.
All of my prior experiences have informed my “why” for global health, of which the reason I described above is just one. Stay tuned in future posts for some of my others (the people, the communities, and much more!) and perhaps a deeper dive into how my winding path through Costa Rican jungles and Brazilian prisons lead me to global orthopedics specifically.
Until then, I have just two weeks left of my rotation in orthopedics at the Korle Bu teaching hospital here in Accra, Ghana before I make the long journey home to the US and a rather exciting day for 4th year medical students across the country. Match day will occur on March 15th, which is where I will find out if I matched into orthopedic surgery (fingerscrossed!) and where I will be training for my 5-year orthopedic surgery residency. The past year, and more specifically the past few months, have been filled with lots of life and change. I am nervous and excited to see what the next few months have in store! Until then, I will continue to soak up all of the special moments I am so fortunate to get to experience here in Accra.
Till next time,
Jamieson O’Marr
What I am Consuming: Masters of the Air - Apple TV. For those of you that know me I am a rather large history buff, and in particular military history. This new show follows the story of the bombing wing of the US 8th air force in World War II. It is incredibly well put together so far, which is to be expected from the creators of Band of Brothers and The Pacific. Give it watch.
What’s in my Headphones: Zach Bryan’s entire discography - I am gearing up to go see Zach Bryan play the night before match in mid-March! I am a massive fan of the emotional lyrics and folky feel of his music, hopefully it will be a good distraction prior to an eventful day!