Last year we were both awarded through the Mayo International Health Program stipends to visit Kenya for a one-month rotation in international health. We were very fortunate to visit and rotate through the St. Mary's Mission Hospital in Rift Valley Province in Kenya from March 2nd through March 26th. Under the mentorship of Dr. Father Bill Fryda (a Mayo alumnus) we had a wonderful experience practicing medicine in the inpatient men's ward and participated in a cutaneous leishmaniasis clinical trial through outreach clinics. With a wonderful mix of hard work, and even harder play, we were very fortunate to experience a life-changing month of practicing medicine in a country of friendly people, gorgeous scenery, and limited resources. We treated patients with AIDS and TB, malaria and buffalo attacks, car trauma and sickle cell, heart failure and hepatitis, and much more. We delivered babies, were in the OR, and rounded on our own when Dr. Fryda was gone. We hiked, went on safari, shopped, and went horseback riding. We saw lions, cheetahs, zebrahs, elephants, hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, gazelle, buffalo, white rhinos, flamingoes, baboons, warthogs, and so much more. And although we were sad to return and leave all the wonderful people and sights along the way, the lure of family and smell of cheeseburgers made us realize how much we miss home. And of course one of us (I won't name any names) missed Mishti (our cat) too much to stay in Kenya any longer. We are happy to be home but highly recommend anyone to visit Kenya - the first time you see a lion eating a water buffalo in the savannah, you'll understand why it had such an awesome effect on us.
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