We are all born with innate passion. Mine was sparked during my first trip overseas. During the year that I studied abroad in Granada, Spain, and I had the opportunity to work with women that were recovering from drug addiction. I loved learning their cultural intricacies and felt intimately involved in creating their path towards health. I felt that my presence was making a difference in their life. I knew after this experience that I would be dedicated to Global Health.
I chose the Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program at Danbury Hospital because they promised to support my desire to work abroad. They have done more than just this. The physicians at my hospital have personally donated both money and time to make STAR International’s surgical teaching camp possible. The Global Health department came up with the funds to purchase the remaining surgical items that are necessary to operate on women with gynecological pathology. (Thank you Dr. Ahmadi!).
It has most definitely been a team effort. My co-residents, Corrie Miller, Amanda Wilmot, and Bethany Brady gathered together friends and family to donate towards a fundraising run. Amanda’s mom, Patricia Wilmot, made a very generous donation towards helping the women of Uganda. My amazing family, Beah and Dennis Pedersen, Randy Haber, Bruce Pedersen, and Helynn Rueda donated over $1500! The beautiful family of my fiancée, Andrew Steininger, was very generous with the gift they gave from the Hoan Foundation. Thank you Judy and Daniel Steininger! The incredible generosity of my dearest friends, Jane Summers, Margaret Rust, and Kristin and Ruben Villagran put of over our goal of $10,000. I’m overwhelmed by the love and support. Thank you all for believing in me and the vision of STAR International.
Two weeks until take off! Part of me is nervous. I know very well that it is impossible to completely change the system that leaves so many women suffering. But, the bigger part of me is extremely excited to start training the trainers and giving the gift of knowledge and operating skill to the Ob-Gyn residents. There is no better place to start than improving education. My dream for STAR International is to motivate and teach the current residents to a point that will allow them to pass on the knowledge to the future generations of women’s health workers.
I chose the Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program at Danbury Hospital because they promised to support my desire to work abroad. They have done more than just this. The physicians at my hospital have personally donated both money and time to make STAR International’s surgical teaching camp possible. The Global Health department came up with the funds to purchase the remaining surgical items that are necessary to operate on women with gynecological pathology. (Thank you Dr. Ahmadi!).
It has most definitely been a team effort. My co-residents, Corrie Miller, Amanda Wilmot, and Bethany Brady gathered together friends and family to donate towards a fundraising run. Amanda’s mom, Patricia Wilmot, made a very generous donation towards helping the women of Uganda. My amazing family, Beah and Dennis Pedersen, Randy Haber, Bruce Pedersen, and Helynn Rueda donated over $1500! The beautiful family of my fiancée, Andrew Steininger, was very generous with the gift they gave from the Hoan Foundation. Thank you Judy and Daniel Steininger! The incredible generosity of my dearest friends, Jane Summers, Margaret Rust, and Kristin and Ruben Villagran put of over our goal of $10,000. I’m overwhelmed by the love and support. Thank you all for believing in me and the vision of STAR International.
Two weeks until take off! Part of me is nervous. I know very well that it is impossible to completely change the system that leaves so many women suffering. But, the bigger part of me is extremely excited to start training the trainers and giving the gift of knowledge and operating skill to the Ob-Gyn residents. There is no better place to start than improving education. My dream for STAR International is to motivate and teach the current residents to a point that will allow them to pass on the knowledge to the future generations of women’s health workers.