UAB Department of Surgery resident Quince Gibson, M.D., recently had the opportunity to travel to Malawi- before the COVID-19 pandemic- to participate in a tropical surgery rotation. Gibson outlines his experiences during the rotation, which he calls “life-changing” and credits with giving him a “greater appreciation” for the surgical training and life in the United States.

Words written by Quince Gibson, M.D.

“For the month of February, I had the opportunity to travel to Malawi, a country of over 18 million people in the south-central part of Africa. This rotation was funded by the UAB General Surgery Residency Program and presented a unique opportunity for me to practice general surgery in resource-constrained environment. Under the direction of Dr. Gillian Seton and Dr. Moses Kasumba and in conjunction with the Pan African Academy of Christian Surgeons (PAACS), I had the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of surgeries. There were many unique challenges in patient care as well as opportunities for growth and personal development.

The Malamulo Seventh-Day Adventist Hospital, located in Malamulo, Malawi, is a rural teaching hospital that boasts three ventilators (two of which are used in the OR and are not suitable for infants); one X-ray machine; three operating rooms; and a friendly, committed and competent staff, including general practitioners, an obstetrician/gynecologist, a pediatrician and two full time attending surgeons. I had the opportunity to perform C-sections, an esophagectomy, small bowel resections, open hernia repairs, repair of orthopedic injuries, urological procedures to include prostatectomies, orchiectomies and a penectomy.

This was a life-changing experience for me. I was privileged to have my family travel along for this experience. The learning opportunity was not limited to the medical knowledge and surgical abilities I was able to attain under the excellent leadership and training of Dr. Seton and Dr. Kasumba. Learning how to keep calm when the lights suddenly go out during a procedure, or continuing to treat patients when the entire community and hospital is without running water or electricity for more than 24 hours has given me a greater appreciation for the blessings that are afforded to us in the United States and prepared me for facing adverse and challenging situations in the future.

I am grateful to UAB’s Department of Surgery, Loma Linda University- who assisted in funding for my family- and their Deferred Mission Appointee Program, as well as the kind and brave individuals at Malamulo who continue to provide amazing care for the beautiful people of Malawi.”

The General Surgery Residency Program at UAB provides an outstanding clinical experience with many unique opportunities including research participation, extensive robotic surgery training, international training opportunities and more.