McKay Meyer Reflection – Surgical Needs Assessment in Uzbekistan

McKay Meyer is a College of Medicine student at MUSC. He was awarded a Center for Global Health Student & Trainee Travel Grant in the spring of 2023 to pursue a project with Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan. View more photos of McKay's time in Uzbekistan in this Flickr photo gallery.

The Uzbekistan Minister of Health invited a team of American physicians to start a partnership that would improve surgical care and medical education in Uzbekistan. I was very honored to be invited as part of the team and was able to stay for a month as part of my FLEX Global Health track. In just one week, our team was able to accomplish a lot.

Our trip started with a surgical needs assessment at Bukhara State Medical Institute (BSMI). We met with the faculty and deans of the institution and toured the facilities. The new campus consists of a medical education building that is currently in use and a hospital that will be fully operational within six months. We assessed the hospital’s resources, including medical equipment and trained personnel, identifying gaps and opportunities for improvement. Each of the doctors on our team presented to students about topics within their specialty. Dr. Mike Mallah presented to BSMI’s council of deans about what global surgery is, and about the MUSC Global Surgery Program that he started. Dr. Ramin Eskandari had the idea to create a living fund for Uzbek students to participate in global health activities. Following Dr. Eskandari’s lead, each of the doctors on our team donated. Through individual donors and a large donation from the Uzbekistan Ministry of Health, the fund already has over $200,000.

The Uzbekistan Ministry of Health and BSMI faculty welcomed us with hospitality that is truly unmatched, but I wouldn’t have been able out my mission without the tremendous help from several students at the institute.

Halima and Daler helped me navigate a new language, culture, and education system. Not only did they translate for me, they helped me organize meetings and presentations, interact with faculty at the institute, show me around the important parts of Bukhara and Samarkand, and answer all the questions I had about their culture. I did not anticipate building such a strong friendship in just one month.

Despite being from opposite ends of the globe, we were remarkably similar and meshed instantly. My friends made Bukhara feel like a temporary home, rather than just a destination or project. It must be stated how beautiful the destination truly was, though. The Ark Fortress from the fifth century abuts the Poi Kalan complex, whose giant minaret shines brightly in the center of the old city. There are sacred Islamic pilgrimage sites all around town that have been places of worship and learning for hundreds of years. Everything from the architecture to the textiles is ornate and tied to Uzbekistan’s ancient history.

I am extremely grateful that I was able to explore such a beautiful place and make lifelong friends. I look forward to our continued collaboration and hope to share this experience with other students in the future.