Klemm Fellowship - A Ghanaian Crash Course in Listening, Learning, and Loving

In December, I traveled to Mamfe, Ghana, a small town in the Eastern Region, about an hour from Accra. While I was there, I stayed with a local host family, took lessons in Twi, their local language, and traveled 15 minutes each day to volunteer at the local health clinic. Each day was different, but many were filled with home visits, child welfare and growth checks, vaccination clinics, family planning and education, and wound care. In my time in Ghana, I met many health professionals and got to see how our health systems differ. I also had several opportunities to engage with the local culture and became familiar with many Ghanaian customs and traditions. My experience in Mamfe and the surrounding towns has fueled my passion for Public Health, while reminding me that there is no “right” answer to many of the problems that plague our world, and that listening to each other is often what is most important.