The Gorgas course is an intensive clinical diploma program in tropical medicine. On a daily basis, we deliberate over cases, round on the wards, attend lectures, and get down-and-dirty with imaging and microscopes.
The most wonderful part of the course so far has been the warmth and community of participants. There’s been an epidemic of what I like to call “insta-nerd-friendships.” More important than clinical acumen is that common thread of commitment to largely neglected populations and diseases.
On unofficial survery, there is a 30/30/30 split: 30% staff ID physicians / 30% locuming general physicians spending significant part-time in resource-poor settings/ 30% physicians who live and work permanently in LMIC (the true ID specialists, but without the extra letters after their names.)
The volume of the first week is such that many of us felt as though we were “going gorgas” – the equivalent of “going bonkers”– over the depth and breadth of quality clinical cases we’ve been exposed to over the span of only 5 days.
I’ve captured 100+ photos so far and hope to post more of them along with accompanying dialogue here soon. Stay tuned for more episodes of “Going Gorgas.”
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