A Little Journey to Rwanda

 It has been long since we last wrote an update, and I wanted to write a short story to reconnect us.

The first week in February I (Mike) took a trip to Rwanda to visit some Australian friends, the Walkers, who work in an Internal Medicine residency training program, and to teach a few lectures at the University of Rwanda Medical School.

It was a deeply refreshing and stimulating experience, the family hosting me was extraordinarily hospitable and gracious.  The training program is taught at a very high level of medical expertise.  And I didn't have to make any life or death decisions for a whole week.  It was something of a nerd's vacation.

Pictured here are some images from a hiking trip into the surrounding volcanic mountain ranges (no gorillas, we were on the southern end of Rwanda).  And below are some still shots of an immunology drama which I dreamed up to illustrate the cellular immune response to infection.  It's a 4 part drama of cellular warfare, good guys (immune cells) vs. bad guys (bacteria/viruses), with various weaponry (antibiotics).  These residents have knowledge and curiosity at a deep level of medicine.  They challenged my teaching ability and encouraged me deeply that they are the bright hope of medicine in Africa.