From late November to early December 2023, I traveled to Ethiopia with the purpose of participating in a few different education-related events. My trip yielded many important and impactful experiences for both myself and my colleagues abroad.
First, I traveled to Hawassa University to participate in their graduation. This was a wonderful and inspiring celebration. It also gave me an opportunity to meet with the new leadership at the Hawassa University College of Health Sciences to discuss how we can further strengthen our partnerships.
I then traveled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia so that I could attend the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) annual meeting. During this meeting, I was awarded an honorary fellowship.
Finally, I participated in a surgical education workshop led Dr. Kevin Pei, Dr. Kristin Long, and Beth Hochman. This workshop was created to update our COSECSA colleagues on current advances in surgical education and the use of technology. We had many thought-provoking discussions as a result of this workshop.
My trip to Ethiopia was an incredibly valuable experience as I was able to continue to build on important connections with our international partners.
Girma Tefera, MD, is a Professor in the Division of Vascular Surgery and Vice Chair of Global Surgery for the Department of Surgery.