Uganda - UQ-OCS Global Health Experience

In 2016, Canada-Uganda Sport and Exercise Medicine (CUSEM) performed their first medical outreach trip to Uganda, in order to support the development of sports medicine. After a 2 year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CUSEM returned to Uganda in May 2022, and I am very fortunate and appreciative that I was allowed to accompany this group. Alongside Dr. Blake Boggess from Duke University, and Dr. Rob Olson from the University of Southern California, I was one of 3 U.S. based physicians that traveled with the team. The team also consisted of 3 sports medicine physical therapists and 1 exercise scientist.

Armed with ultra-portable hand-held ultrasound units, we started the trip by giving a presentation to orthopedic surgery and anesthesiology residents and medical students at CoRSU Hospital in Kololo, Uganda on Ultrasound of Peripheral Nerves. We were also able to demonstrate peripheral nerve blocks on some of their patients in the operating room.

The next day we held a comprehensive musculoskeletal ultrasound course for the Orthopedic Society of Uganda and Uganda Association of Radiologists in Kampala, Uganda. This was attended by approximately 40 Ugandan physicians and consisted of didactic lectures followed by hands on ultrasound scanning by the participants. MRI is especially difficult to arrange in Uganda due to poor access and financial constraints, making ultrasound a much more practical solution to help those physicians both diagnose and treat their patients in a timely and effective manner. The feedback from the course was exceedingly positive and we were also able to help arrange for special pricing from the local representatives from GE Ultrasound to help improve the financial feasibility of integrating ultrasound into their local practices.

We then traveled to Mbarara, Uganda and gave more musculoskeletal ultrasound education to the physical therapy students at Mbarara University of Science and Technology. The following week, we set up a clinic inside Mandela National Stadium and were able to treat over 90 athletes from the Ugandan national track and field, basketball, and volleyball teams. We also gave lectures to the Ugandan national coaches and medical care teams on topics such as heat illness, strength and conditioning, and sport specific warmups.

I'm very proud to mention the local support that I received from those here in Louisiana in regards to this medical outreach trip. Brian Moore from Ponchartrain Orthotics and Prosthetics donated multiple boxes of various durable medical equipment such as knee and ankle braces and athletic tape. Our team at Ochsner also graciously donated extensive medical supplies that enabled us to provide the same level of care that we offer here in the U.S. The response from the Ugandan people was that of extreme gratitude, and for that, the trip was extremely rewarding.