Medical Student Spotlight

My name is Avi Dravid (left), and I am a fourth-year medical student at PSOM who will be starting orthopaedic surgery residency at Penn in just a few weeks. I recently returned from an orthopaedics rotation in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and am deeply grateful for the support I received from my host institution MUHAS, as well as the Penn Center for Global Health.

During my time in Dar, I had the opportunity to work with orthopaedic specialists at the national hospital, where providers manage a high volume of orthopaedic pathology – from road traffic injuries to chronic pediatric deformities. Many of the patients we saw traveled hundreds of kilometers, presenting later in their disease course due to significant delays in care at their local hospitals.

There is a substantial burden of traumatic injury in Dar es Salaam, often related to motorcycle accidents. Open fractures with neurovascular compromise are common. Moreover, orthopaedic trauma surgeons must contend with high rates of infection and soft tissue damage that may prevent definitive surgical fixation at the time of injury. I was inspired by the teamwork, adaptability, and dedication of the surgical staff in the face of resource limitations and tremendous local need. My time in Tanzania reaffirmed my commitment to global surgery, teaching me lessons that I am excited to carry forward in my future career.