As part of CFHI’s Global Health in Ghana: Cape Coast four-week fellowship, I had the opportunity to shadow incredible physicians and observe intense surgical procedures in Paediatrics & NICU and in Surgery at Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH). I rotated through these departments, observing the daily activities of a rounding physician, the intricacies of caring for premature infants with congenital disorders, and the demanding yet rewarding nature of being a surgeon. As a tertiary hospital, CCTH oversees the care and treatment of patients from all communities & backgrounds. The faculty and staff at CCTH were beyond welcoming—they were encouraging, instructive, and dedicated to their service. I was also empowered to get involved in Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights community outreach initiatives with the PPAG Cape Coast Clinic 🩺🏥Giving presentations at local schools about reusable sanitary pads and reproductive health as part of these initiatives was one of my favorite outreach opportunities.
Prior to my time at Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, I knew that I wanted to pursue medicine as a career but lacked a detailed understanding of physician life. Watching the pediatricians at CCTH care for both their tiny patients and their families gave me a newfound appreciation for the specialty. It takes a special kind of person to be able to first understand what ails a child—who often cannot communicate their pain clearly—and then clearly, simply explain that to a parent who may have zero prior knowledge of the disease pathology, human anatomy, or current prognosis. I had often said to my friends in passing that I would never become a pediatrician because I would not be able to handle seeing children in so much pain. Now, I find myself drawn to pediatrics because I believe my strong communication skills, ability to explain complex topics simply, and affinity for working with children are well-suited to the work.
I was not expecting to be met with such a warm, welcoming spirit upon my arrival in Ghana. The culture in Ghana is so different from the United States’ cold, individualistic atmosphere. People greeted me as I walked by, local merchants directed me to commendable restaurants and shops, and the neighbor families near our student residential compound made friends with us. In addition, I had never traveled out of the country completely alone before this trip. Traveling to Africa for the first time pushed me out of my comfort zone as I could no longer rely on familiarity of the country or presence of family to keep me safe, on time, and in the right place. I have become such an independent person, and also even more outgoing and friendly than I was before!
As I began considering what I’d like to do for my STEP Signature Project, I knew I wanted to travel abroad. However, I wasn’t looking to study abroad because I have very specific course credit requirements for my Neuroscience major and for my pre-MSTP (combined MD-PhD program) track. When I found out about the CFHI Global Health in Ghana, my heart became set on pursuing this public health and medicine service-learning project. To afford the trip, I had to apply for more scholarships.
I began working ten times as diligently as before in all of my classes, threw myself into my research projects, and spent time working as a biology lab TA and as a clinical and kitchen volunteer in Columbus. My experiences, hard work, and merit would show on paper, but I needed to be able to write about my “why”—why I want to travel, why I want to do this program, and why I need the funding. Through countless hours of introspective journaling, scholarship essay revision, and internal monologuing at the gym, I was able to write the most heartfelt, determined scholarship essay I have ever penned. I applied for the CFHI Thomas Hall Scholarship. Then, the wait began.
In the meantime, I worked on myself mentally and physically. I know that the brain believes whatever it is told—and so I told myself that I am the person that I had been hoping to be by next year. I motivated myself to put in the work to understand every possible concept there was to learn in my classes. I worked hard in the gym to become stronger through weightlifting and more agile through kickboxing, a self-defense measure as a teenage girl who would soon be traveling alone. I became comfortable with the uncomfortable, whether it was standing long hours teaching lab or studying when all my friends were out having fun. And then one night during spring break, as my mom and I were falling asleep after a long day exploring Charleston, North Carolina, I received an email congratulating me as the recipient of the CFHI Thomas Hall Scholarship.
Fast forward to my journey to Ghana. On every flight I took, I became the designated luggage-lifter for any elders who struggled stowing their carry-ons. I took taxis and rickshaws to work and around the city, both alone and with my program friends, confident in my ability to run or fight if in any danger. Standing for hours upon hours in the operating room was doable, not unbearable. I was comfortable walking around the hot, humid, non-air conditioned hospital for rounds. Beyond academics, surpassing grades and numbers and points—it was the work I did to better myself as a person that empowered me to become so much more self-sufficient, open-minded, and free-spirited.
Many of the physicians I met also made their marks on my heart. My friend Dr. Vincent from the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana Cape Coast Clinic always emphasized the importance, as an OB/GYN, of caring for women and empowering them to make informed choices about their health. The urology consultants I shadowed in surgery, Dr. Amoabeng and Dr. Maison, always talked me through the procedure I was observing, asked me to ask them any question I could dream of, and taught me about the anatomy and the pathology of each condition as though I was one of the medical students from University of Cape Coast. On rounds in the Paediatrics ward, the resident doctors Edwina, Reuben, Gifti, and Gideon translated the case management conversations from Twi (local language) to English for me, taught me conversational Twi, and shared their goals, plans, and dreams with me. I never felt like I was just a shadow—I was always made to feel like an important part of the teaching hospital ecosystem. All of these amazing professionals have inspired me to walk as they walk and do as they do. To be open, thorough, compassionate, approachable, informed, and fortitudinous is what I now strive for in all ways.
I am forever humbled to have experienced such a transformative month of learning, growth, and exploration. I was able to pair my love for public speaking and reproductive justice to contribute to the groundbreaking, community-based work that is already being spearheaded by Ghanaian organizations.
Through my experiences in Cape Coast, I have gained not only an unparalleled understanding of clinical case management, preventative medicine, and public health & social advocacy efforts, but also the dearest friends and mentors who inspire me to be just as dedicated as they are throughout my (many, many, many more) years of education and service. As I continue working towards my goal of becoming a clinician-scientist through medical and graduate school, I feel so informed and optimistic about my path, and how much it suits my dreams.
And, on top of it all—I made the time to travel around the country and enjoy all the natural wonder of Ghana️. From hiking an hour to swim in the thundering Wli Waterfall of the Volta region, to exploring the vibrant cityscape of Accra by taxi and by foot, every Ghanaian journey of mine has secured its place as a fond, dear memory in my heart.
None of this would have been possible without the STEP program which funded my travel expenses almost entirely—thank you all for having so much faith in me! I will always be grateful for the unforgettable and irreplaceable memories, lessons, adventures, and people that this program brought into my life.