Blogs

By Bill Frist

What a week! We have spent the days surrounded by the unique landscapes and wildlife that are a source of pride for all Africans, and must be safeguarded as this continent rapidly urbanizes. We have traveled from a remote lakeshore town (Buhingu) in Tanzania all the way to the Serengeti, engaging in countless discussions on global health and wellbeing along the way, sharing the 13-year history of Hope Through Healing Hands operating in Africa and learning a lot about health, healing, and sustainability from local and native peoples.

By Amy Fogleman, RN

During February 8-10, 2018, over 200 students from all over the U.S. and Canada gathered at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI for the Faith and International Development Conference (FIDC). This three-day conference attracts students who are interested in programs of development, global studies, and missions. The FIDC provides opportunities for these students to engage with and learn from speakers and organizations who work in global development, in hopes of inciting their interest for global service.

How can people of faith contribute to the political will and the leadership of shifting the paradigm for vulnerable populations to enhance access to nutrition for mothers and children, end stunting and wasting, increase food security, and reduce malnutrition? This chat will cover these areas and more at the intersection of justice and global nutrition.

By Bill Frist

Tracy and I are in Africa for two-weeks: Tanzania, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Kenya. The trip will bring together work from Hope Through Healing Hands (global community health) and The Nature Conservancy (intersection nature and health) in conjunction with Pathfinder International (global women’s health). As chairman of Hope Through Healing Hands, I will explore how we can globally impact peoples’ well-being and health by more smartly addressing and integrating: food and nutrition; clean water by protecting sources and exploring the power of social impact water funds; sustainable agricultural practices; environment and pollution; climate change and coastal impact; maternal and reproductive health; infant mortality and child health. The expertise of The Nature Conservancy – the leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people – will be invaluable as we study in depth its science-based best practices in each of these areas. Internet access is intermittent, but I will share updates as I can.

By Bill Frist

It’s been many years since my first trip to Africa, but each trip changes me. I already know this trip will be no different. Tracy and I are here for two-weeks this time: Tanzania, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Kenya. The trip will bring together work from Hope Through Healing Hands (global community health) and The Nature Conservancy (intersection nature and health) in conjunction with Pathfinder International (global women’s health). Since 2004, Hope Through Healing Hands has invested over $2.2 million in direct funding to Africa and has sent over 60 Frist Global Health Leaders to African nations including Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania for medical service and training.

By Jenny Eaton Dyer, PhD

Last week, I had the privilege of speaking at the National Association of Evangelicals Christian Student Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.

The conference was led by Galen Carey, Vice President of Government Relations, and on the day I spoke, it was in the grand marble Kennedy Caucus room in the Russell Building on Capitol Hill.

By Jon Niconchuk
Since its inception over a century ago, AIC Kijabe Hospital has transformed into a national (and even international) center of clinical excellence. And yet the mission of the hospital does not end with clinical excellence alone. As the institution has matured, its goals have expanded beyond care delivery to care systems development and medical education. Over the course of our time here we have worked alongside medicine residents, obstetric residents, general surgery residents, neurosurgery residents, plastic surgery residents, and anesthesia residents and fellows from not only Kenya, but all of Africa (including Cameroon, Somalia, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Gabon, and Rwanda just to name a few) – training at Kijabe and planning to return to either their county or country equipped to provide high quality care.

By Tara Lane
I am finishing up my first week rotating at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka, Zambia. I have been participating on the ID consult service, and it is amazing how much I have learned over the past four days. The ID team has been very welcoming, and I am grateful for their teaching and patience, especially as I learn a new system.

By Monica Polcz
As I reflect during my final days in Kijabe, I realize that this experience has both solidified my confidence in what I know and also highlighted areas that I am continuing to learn. On my first day in clinic, between 5 clinic rooms, we saw 150 patients. The variation in pathology extended the entire breadth of general surgery, most of which I had seen before.

By Jon Niconchuk
Jambo from Kenya! After barely escaping a rare Nashville snow storm and back to back 8 hour flights, we arrived safely in Nairobi (well, two of the three of us at least; our final companion missed a connection and made it the next morning.) Despite having been here once before, the drive down the hill into Kijabe was just as breathtaking. This idyllic oasis, this “place of the wind” nestled on the mountainside overlooking the ever-widening Great Rift Valley, remains as aesthetically beautiful as ever. With our comfortable guest house and nightly dinners waiting in the fridge, it is easy to lose sight of the reality of ever-present scarcity that exists all around. Yet as familiar faces welcomed me back to the operating theaters on Monday morning, I was reminded why AIC Kijabe Hospital – built from nothing over the past century – remains such a remarkable place. On our second morning in the ORs, one of the surgeons approached us hurriedly and said, “Dr. Jon, please go to the emergency ward, there has been a mass casualty.”

« First < Prev Next > Last »

Notes from the Road: Hadza and Clean Water

Feb 09 2018

Faith and International Development Conference Recap

Feb 08 2018

Social Justice and Global Nutrition

Feb 05 2018

Notes from the Road: Tuungane Program

Feb 01 2018

Notes from the Road: Africa 2018

Jan 31 2018

NAE Christian Student Leadership Conference Recap

Jan 30 2018

FGHL Blog: Jon Niconchuk - Blog 2 from Kenya

Jan 27 2018

FGHL Blog: Tara Lane - Blog Post 1 from Zambia

Jan 25 2018

FGHL Blog: Monica Polcz - Lessons from Kijabe Part 2 - What I Know & What I Don’t Know

Jan 22 2018

FGHL Blog: Jon Niconchuk - Greetings from Kenya!

Jan 20 2018