This blog will chronicle the experiences of an LSUA registered Clinical Laboratory Scientist volunteering time and sharing experiences while training laboratorians and helping build laboratory infrastructure in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. As part of a six-member team (selected from across the US) I will help provide lab training in Hematology, Chemistry, CD4 testing, and offer quality improvement programs to aid in diagnosis and monitoring of HIV/AIDS patients in resource-limited countries.

Readers interested in learning more about the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) may benefit from reading this blog. The field of Clinical laboratory Science is relatively unknown to the general public, yet these professionals provide analysis and accurate test results responsible for 8O% of patient diagnosis. Readers interested in learning more about these hidden professionals and their work will also find this blog enlightening.

I will share my experiences of meeting, training, understanding, and appreciating Ethiopian people and their culture through this blog site. Our team’s training mission is for a short two weeks; I am anxious to volunteer my time and share my expertise in laboratory science and am sure I will come away with a much better understanding of a culture very different from my own and gain as much as I give. After returning to Alexandria and LSUA, I will share the culture and benefits (to Ethiopian citizens) of the medical facility with my students, faculty and community groups. I hope to return a better teacher from this experience and share information gained to benefit LSUA students.

I invite you to share my journey into the life and culture of Ethiopia as a medical laboratory volunteer.