Marci Lee reports in from the Himalayas
Noted on October 21, 2008 by Natanya in Medical,Asia,Professional Development,Settling In,
Marci Lee is one of the first group of IE3 scholarship recipients. She is doing a medical rotation in Dehra Dun and Mumbai india with CFHI.
It has been three and a half weeks since I have been in India but it seems like a lifetime. I thought it would be difficult to adjust but it has been rather easy. The first week in Than Goan was amazing. We shadowed Dr. Paul who is basically the physician for Than Goan and the surrounding areas in the mountains. Patients will literally flock from five or more hours away to see Dr. Paul. He really let us get a hands on experience with the patients. We listened to the hearts and lungs of babies up to the elderly ages of eighty. He taught us about naturopathy and several plants that he prescribes to his patients. The following weeks were very different. The second week in Dehradun was fast paced and tiring. We shadowed Dr. Ghandi, Dr. Prem Nath and Dr. Nisha Gera. All of these doctors were so wonderful and they make it easy to forget the dirt and dust of this up and coming city. Dr. Gandhi has his sights set high, he is head of his own hospital and he is even opening another one. He is caring and patient with his students and his patients. We sat through his check-ups and rounded in the ICCU as well as the ICU. He likes quizzing us on heart and lung sounds which is challenging but exceedingly beneficial. Dr. Prem Nath is a 96 year old wonder. He taught us about acupressure, acupuncture and reiki. We learned about all of the pathways and channels and how to get rid of occipital headaches-my favorite topic. Last but not least of the Doon crew is Dr. Gera my OB-GYN heroine. On the first day we saw a live birth and I found my specialty and decided to apply to the nurse midwifery program at OHSU upon my return. The second day we saw an emergency c-section which was frightening and amazing at the same time. I cannot wait for another week in Dehradun!