A Mission to India, A Changed World View

By Brian Desaulniers, MD   To say that my experiences with the Himalayan Health Exchange (www.himalayanhealth.com) changed my view of the world is an understatement. Spending October 2010 trekking the farthest reaches of the Himalayan Mountains was awe-inspiring and exhausting, but it was worth every moment. My experience began as in interest to participate in an international medicine experience during my final year of residency training at Palmetto Health Richland Medical Center. I had never traveled to a developing country, and I wanted this rotation to allow me to be outdoors, provide strictly clinical care, and do lots of hiking. An online search turned up the Himalayan Health Exchange, and after speaking with prior participants, I felt it would meet all of my goals. I packed my bags and headed for a place that until recently I had barely given a thought: Delhi, India. It was nighttime when I arrived, and as rough as things appeared, a gentleman from the hotel greeted me with a smile at the airport. He quickly loaded my bags and drove me through the city. For those who have never been to Delhi, it is perhaps the most chaotic, exciting, and frustrating place you may ever go in your life. You must learn to “go with the flow,” literally and figuratively.   If you resist what Delhi wants from you, you will end up in a constant struggle. I soon fell asleep in my hotel only to be awakened by my new friend, Elliot. A farm boy from Ohio, Elliott would turn out to be my r...
Source: Going Global - Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Blog Posts Source Type: blogs