In June, a total of twelve fellows from Albania, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Nigeria, Poland, Sudan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan attended an observership at one of the leading hospitals in Austria. From this group, five observers spent the month at the Medical University of Graz, one observer visited the General Hospital of Salzburg, and six fellows observed at the Medical University of Vienna.
During the OMI observership, a fellow spends one month immersed in their specialty, with guidance from mentors, supervisors, and peers at the department. They experience the use of state-of-the-art medical equipment, procedures, and patient care routines firsthand, as well as form professional networks and friendships with their fellow observers.
Yet after the observership, when participants return to their home hospitals, is when this knowledge really comes to life, creating life-changing developments and opportunities for patients and doctors alike. Dr. Akaninyene Eseme Bernard Ubom from Nigeria describes his experiences at the OB/GYN department of the General Hospital of Vienna, and how he plans to use the knowledge gained during his observership once he returns home:
Akaninyene Eseme Bernard Ubom, MD
OMI Observer from Nigeria
„My OMI observership was both wonderful and amazing. Right on my second day, I saw a sentinel lymph node biopsy for the very first time. I also saw the DaVinci hysterectomy and bilateral salpingoophorectomy for the first time. I learned to skeletonize the ureters before clamping the uterine arteries, to further reduce the risk of ureteric injury during a hysterectomy. We usually do not do this back home. Also, whereas we do a vaginal hysterectomy to treat pelvic organ prolapse in postmenopausal women, it was interesting to learn here that when there is no uterine pathology, a sacrohysteropexy is done. I saw and was taught how to do this procedure. I will surely take this back home and recommend it to the many postmenopausal women with pelvic organ prolapse, who are often reluctant to do a hysterectomy.
My exposure to the IVF clinic, which we do not have in my hospital at home, was also very educating. I saw oocyte retrievals, embryo transfer, and an ambulatory hysteroscopy. I hope that soon, plans to set up IVF in our hospital back home will materialize and I can put to use all I have learned. I was also at the transgender clinic, which I was very delighted to see since we do not have such a clinic back home. I am going to recommend this to my department and hospital back home.
My OMI observership certainly surpassed my expectations by far. I am really looking forward to going back home to put into practice all I have learned.”
As the OMI wishes Dr. Ubom all the best for his future plans, the observership program is going on a summer break for the months of July and August. However, applications for the period of February-June 2025 are still open until July 15 on the OMI platform, and we look forward to receiving all applications.
