“Where?”

"Where are you going?"

"Kenya."

"And you're excited about that??"

That was the most entertaining of the many question and answer sessions I've had about the trip I'm embarking on today. The second & third most commonly asked questions were "What are you most nervous/excited about?"  The most truthful answer to that is “I have no idea.” Any preconceived ideas I have about what I should be nervous or excited about are probably wrong and most certainly apt to change quickly. But so far the answer is the same for both: "Caring for women in Kenya."

I am most excited about caring for women in Kenya because it is what I have wanted to do for as long as I can remember (in the abstract sense, anyway- the when, where, & how details fell into place in the most unexpected & wonderful way- perhaps a subject for another post). I have finally finished all of the training to prepare me to be useful in a place that can really use skilled obstetrician-gynecologists with a passion for contraception and teaching.

AND because having the past 2 months off (as much of a blessing as it has been & as much as I have enjoyed it) has caused me to go slightly stir-crazy, so I am realllly ready to start working. 

I am most nervous about caring for women in Kenya because physicians in the US are incredibly lucky to be able to practice in a setting where we (usually) have any and every tool (test/device/medicine/operating room/etc.) available to us to provide the best care possible for our patients. I will surely learn how to be flexible and creative, to use whatever tools are available, and to advocate for any additional tools my patients need & deserve... but it will be hard when I can’t provide enough care to save someone.

That’s really why I’m going to Kenya (and why I’m excited about it). Because this is what I need to do in order to be the best physician I can be, to reach the most women I can, and to continue to strive for the goals I believe in- global health equity in access to care, health outcomes, and reproductive choices.

Thank you to everyone who has helped me to be headed where I am (literally and figuratively). From my upbringing in a wonderful hippie household full of love and extended family, through my many years of studying (and playing) with wonderful friends, to the hospitals and clinics where I have learned everything I know from amazing colleagues, teachers, and patients… for every one of you who has told me you are proud of me, I am who I am and doing what I’m doing because of you.

I’ll be writing here to keep all of you updated on my adventures and to help me process what I’m doing and going through. Feel free to pass it on to anyone who might enjoy it.