My experiences in Nepal have been very influential in developing my faith and who I will be as a future healthcare worker. Even before shadowing, I’ve observed many characteristics the Nepali people display that I would like to carry over into my daily life. There have been many instances in which the Nepali people have welcomed me and the rest of the group with open arms. As soon as we arrived at the airport in Kathmandu, we were greeted with marigold necklaces being placed around our necks accompanied by many smiling faces. While walking the streets of Kathmandu and Tansen, we are greeted with “namaste” as the Nepali people are excited to welcome us to their country. At the United Mission Hospital in Tansen, the doctors, nurses, and nursing students are willing to have us follow them around to learn how healthcare is administered in Nepal. I appreciated how many doctors and surgeons have taken the time to interpret information on patients and teach me about what common next steps are in many situations. Although there were many patients to see during the morning rounds, Dr. Ganesh showed me X-rays for every patient we visited and showed me where all the fractures were, which helped me understand patient cases better. Those who saw us walking the streets of Nepal and who had us accompany them in the hospital were open to welcoming us to their country as well as teaching us medical skills and knowledge. Having an open-door attitude to those whom I do not know is a trait the Nepali people exhibit that I want to use in my daily life and my future career as a Physician Assistant. 

In addition to learning about hospitality, I have learned that understanding cultures and backgrounds is extremely important when treating the patient. While rounding in the morning and seeing patients in the OPD, I found it very difficult to understand what was going on as I do not speak nor understand Nepali and did not know much about Nepali daily life. Numerous patients had liver issues, femur fractures, burns, and malnutrition. Many of these issues stem from the daily activities of Nepali people, such as riding motorcycles and tractors to get around and needing to make fires to provide food and warmth for their families, which I did not know previously. Additionally, there is not as much education on healthcare in Nepal as there is in the United States. Many Nepali people do not have the proper education or resources to consume a proper diet and are largely unaware of the damage alcohol can cause. Before knowing this, I would compare and contrast what I saw in the hospital in Tansen to what I regularly see in the hospital I work at in Michigan; however, people’s backgrounds are very different in Nepal than in the United States. It is important to know the patient as a whole so that treatment can be administered to the best of your ability. This was also evident to me when in the medical OPD as Dr. Les and Dr. Olaf, both of whom are from other countries, took the time to learn the Nepali language and understand the hardships of the Nepali people before working at the hospital. While observing their interactions with patients, they were able to fully understand how the patients were feeling and were able to take their knowledge and apply it in the Nepali setting, which made all the difference in determining future steps for treatment. 

While on this trip, I have not only learned more about medical knowledge and how to administer care when considering people’s backgrounds, but I have also learned more about the importance of spirituality in Nepal. When in small groups at the local church in Tansen, I was talking to a young girl about her faith and she described how she leads Bible studies in her house and encourages all of her friends to join. When I asked her what part of the Bible is her favorite, she proceeded to say, “all of it.” It was very inspiring to hear about the commitment the Christian Nepali people have to their faith even though Christianity is such a minority. Even while in the hospital, a doctor would read scripture and pray over the hospital before starting rounds in the morning, which would never be the case in the United States. It was refreshing to be around people whose faiths are such an integral part of their lives and it has pushed me to rely on God more and grow my relationship with Him. 

Prior to shadowing the Tansen hospital, I was very unsure as to what specialty I want to be in the future. While I am still keeping my options open, I was very fascinated by general and orthopedic surgeries, much to my surprise. It was incredible to witness the amazing teamwork between the doctors, junior doctors, nurses, and nursing students in the OT. It also intrigued me how quickly and efficiently surgeries were able to be performed given the limited resources and technology in the hospital. Although I would not be able to perform invasive surgeries on my own as a Physician Assistant, I would be very open to the possibility of being a surgical PA in the future assisting doctors during procedures. This trip has taught me about hospitality, integrating faith into all aspects of life, and possibly what specialty I want to pursue, all of which will help me give the best care that I can give in my future career.