The fellowship begins

So, Ive neglected this blog for awhile. I told myself that I'd be better about writing down thoughts from this year, as it is a huge milestone in the life of our family.

We sold our house in May. Really, that was a fairly crazy time around the McQuillen household. Having spent weeks sorting through our stuff, we had a garage sale just before moving in which we got rid of 25% of our stuff. I think we probably threw out, gave away, or craigslisted another 25% of our stuff prior to that. After we sold the house, we stuck the rest of our stuff in a 1o X 18 ft. storage shed and couch surfed for

three weeks. We had no idea how stressful it would be hopping from house to house until we could move into the apartment in which we now live. Don't get me wrong, we had three very nice places to stay, it's just that it's tough for a toddler to adjust to all of those new places. During the months of June and July I took off for a Tropical Medicine and Parasitology course in West Virginia. It was a very good course. The course content was an in depth exploration of items that were just presented as side notes in medical school. Below is the long list of stuff we learned about. Again, it was very exciting, particularly modules 2 and 3- but I haven't sat in class that many hours in a row in years...I'm not very good at being stationary.

Module 1 Lectures	Course Overview /Introduction to Global Health Epidemiology of Tests Primary Care and the Health Care Worker Essential Drug List Role of Women in Health Famine-Displaced and Refugee Populations Nutrition & Growth Monitoring Family Planning Geographic Distribution of Infectious Diseases Global Epidemiology & Surveillance Global Disease Eradication Air Pollution & Climate Change The EPI Vaccine & Preventable Diseases EPI Cases I, II Emerging Infections HIV Epidemiology & Control Role of International Organizations & Volunteer Organizations in Global Health Global Burden of Psychological Diseases Antimicrobial Resistance Protein-energy Malnutrition Key Micronutrient Deficiencies & Their Prevention Disaster Planning Medical Management of Bioterrorism Causal Inference Community & National Responses to Malnutrition Measures of Morbidity Measures of Mortality & Survival Analysis Epidemiology of Communicable Diseases & Epidemic Investigation Vector Control Tropical Water Supply & Sanitation Rural Development Population Transition & Health Measures Ethical Issues in International Health Environmental Health Occupational Health Cultural Issues in Global Health Introduction to Epidemiology Screening Programs Study Design I, II, III (Descriptive Studies, Analytical Studies, Clinical Trials & Meta-analysis) EPI Cases I, II, III Global TB Eradication Module 1 Review
Module 2 Lectures	Module 2 Overview Travel Medicine I - Advice to Travelers High Altitude Sickness Respiratory Diseases in the Tropics Poisonous Plants and Fish GI Diseases in the Tropics Tropical Ophthalmology Cardiovascular Diseases in the Tropics Surgery in the Tropics Urologic Diseases in the Tropics Dermatology Cases Dermatology in the Tropics/Infectious Skin Diseases Infective Endocarditis Viral Encephalitis Pediatric Respiratory Illnesses Eosinophilia Hepatosplenomegaly Neurologic Diseases in the Tropics Animal Bites and Rabies Prevention Travel Clinic Tropical Medicine Cases Web-based Resources for Travel Medicine Infectious Diarrhea & Fluid Management Enteric Fever (Typhoid) Bone & Joint Infections Skin & Soft Tissue Infections Venomous Insects & Animals The Ill-returning Traveler Prolonged Fever & FUO Heat-Associated Illness Travel Medicine II Dentistry in the Tropics Surgical Dressing/Suture Lab Improvised Splints Lab Immigrant & Refugee Health Pediatric Travel Introduction to Clinical Malaria Cross Cultural Medicine Hypothermia Aviation & Diving Medicine Obstetrics & Gynecology in the Tropics Dermatology for Dark Skin Peoples Burn Care in Developing Nations Culture Shock & Re-entry Shock Module 2 Review/Jeopardy
Module 3 Lectures	Module 3 Overview Introduction to Parasitology Intestinal Protozoa/Tissue Amoeba Intestinal Protozoa Lab/Film Blood & Tissue Protozoa - I (Leishmania, Toxoplasma) Blood & Tissue Protozoa - II (Trypanosomiasis) Blood & Tissue Protozoa Lab/Film (Protozoa and Stool Contaminants) Malaria Malaria Lab Schistosomiasis Other Trematodes Stool Exam for Ova & Parasitology Lab/Film Intestinal Nematodes Cestodes/Larval Cestodes Filariasis & Tissue Nematodes Parasitology Case Studies - I(Protozoa) Parasitology Case Studies - II(Trematodes, Ectoparasites) Parasitology Case Studies - III(Cestodes) Parasitology Case Studies - IV(Nematodes) Nematode Lab/Film Trematode Lab/Film Control of Parasitic Infections Parasitology Practicum I, II Parasitic Jeopardy Competition Medical Entomology (Arthropods, Ticks, Mites, Lice, Bugs, Fleas, Mosquitos, Flies, Myasis) Medical Entomology Lab/Film Entomology Case Studies (participants) Cestode Lab Parasitology Review Clinical Parasitology by Organ System I-II Drugs for Parasitic Infections Video: TBA Module 3 Review
Module 4 Lectures	Module 4 Overview Hansen's Disease Cases Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus Pulmonary Tuberculosis & Screening Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis Cutaneous /SQ Fungi Systemic Mycoses/Opportunistic Fungi Antifungals Zoonoses Syphilis & Other Treponematoses Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria STIs I, II Rheumatic Fever & Other Strep Lymphadenitis Acute Lower Respiratory Infections Non-Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever & Arboviral Illnesses Hematology in the Tropics Molecular Techniques HIV Global Overview Viral Hepatitis Blood Smear Lab ID Case Studies Rickettsial Diseases Oncology in the Tropics Microbiology Lab Peds Procedural Pearls Meningococcemia & Other Bacterial Sepsis Cases - TB Serologic Diagnosis/ Case Presentations Dengue Shigella & Amebiasis Measles HIV Presentation & Management Typhoid Peds HIV Influenza & Avian Flu Urinary Tract Infections Prevention of Pneumonia Globally with Vaccines Neonatal Resuscitation in the Developing World Leptospirosis Diarrheal Diseases Diarrhea/ORS Peds TB Cases Neurologic Cases Practical Aspects of Microbiology Lab in Developing Country HIV Management - Opportunistic Infections (Cases) HTLV I - II Module 4 Review/Jeopardy

A complete overview of the course can be found at:

http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/som/tropmed

It was difficult to leave April and Abbi for several weeks during the beginning of the course. But, driving out to WV with three of my best friends crammed into my VW sedan was the most fun I think I've ever had on a 16 hour car ride. The day before leaving, I emptied the meal monies on my residency name badge on energy drinks, so we were definitely wired for sound on our epic journey eastward.

We arrived at our desination, a little college house that we had rented out for the duration of our class work, in the wee hours of the morning. We were greeted warmly by our good friend Logan, who had been involved in the course for 2 weeks prior to our arrival. Being the only one in that 1000 sq. ft. house was getting a little lonely for him.

Together, we endured over 3oo hours of class room time (though the Via Christi guys did the first module online). The little house logan had to himself quickly felt much smaller as the five of us shared the small living space with one bathroom. The feeling of togetherness only became stronger when we were joined by three of our wives and three children. Thankfully, my single buddies, Jack and Rick were able to stay at a nearby apartment while the families were in town.

Overall, we had a great time. After returning from the course, Jack and Rick took off for Medical Missionary training and service at Karanda hospital in Zimbabwe. Information on the hospital can be found at:

http://www.teamzimmoz.org/kmh.html

Rick is currently keeping a blog at:

internationalfamilymedicine.blogspot.com/

While the guys are forging ahead with work overseas, John, Logan, and I are completing the stateside leg of our International Family Medicine Fellowship. Information on the Fellowhship can be found at:

http://www.vcfm.net/fellowships/international-medicine-fellowship/

I hate to abbreviate the part of the blog that pertains to the WV Tropical Med course, as it really was a great experience. I think if I had my dithers, I'd change a couple of things about the course, but overall it was an essential part of training for work overseas. Hopefully the lessons will stick with us as much as the memories of our more extracurricular activities!

I am currently completing a month of anesthesia training at St. Joseph hospital in Wichita, KS. But, that is another post altogether!