Throughout my healthcare career, I have dedicated myself to the operating room. My surgical technologist training and career began in 2006-07, where I gained experience in various surgical settings, including a rural hospital, a physician-owned outpatient facility, and a level one hospital. In 2020, I further enhanced my education by becoming a registered nurse and joining the inpatient vascular surgery team at UW Health’s University Hospital.
In May 2025, I was able to participate in my first global health field visit at Black Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. None of my previous experiences fully prepared me for the limitations and challenges faced by the surgical staff there. During my one-week visit, I was deeply moved by the warm hospitality and kindness shown to me and my UW Health colleagues by all of the staff at Black Lion Hospital.
While I was only able to observe a limited number of surgeries during my stay, the insights I gained were profound. Notably, I observed the disparities in protocols and practices, and recognized the remarkable progress made within our own surgical practices at UW Health over the past 18 years. This knowledge instills confidence in my belief that Black Lion Hospital has the potential to become the leading institution in Africa in the areas of perioperative data collection, surgical site infection prevention, and enhancing the quality and quantity of healthcare within its community.
As a nurse, I had the opportunity to engage in conversations with operating room nurses, surgical fellows, and attending surgical physicians. These conversations provided valuable insights into the current practices and procedures at Black Lion Hospital, while also allowing me to share some of the differences in our standards at UW Health.
While resources are extremely limited in Addis Ababa’s main teaching hospital, there is a deep understanding that there are many areas of opportunity to improve patient safety and overall quality within the perioperative setting. I left with pages of notes, a renewed purpose, and a sense of responsibility. We exchanged contact information and ideas for future quality improvement efforts.
While many UW Health physicians have been able to engage in these exchanges, far fewer nurses have had the opportunity to do so. That is why I am especially grateful to the UW Vascular Training Program with Developing Countries Fund, led by Dr. Girma Tefera, which made this visit possible. Through this initiative, three inpatient vascular surgery nurses have now participated in two observation trips to Black Lion Hospital over the past year. Looking ahead, our shared hope is that nurses will continue to be part of this vital work—supporting, learning from, and partnering with our colleagues in Ethiopia.
Steph Prahl, BSN, RN is an inpatient vascular surgery nurse at UW Health.