Introducing the Borsum Blog: First few days in Sodo

Anjali Borsum, a class of 2027 College of Medicine student, is on a month-long global health trip in Sodo, Ethiopia. While in-country, she is blogging for the MUSC Center for Global Health. This is her first blog post.

Hi everyone!

We’ve officially arrived in Sodo, Ethiopia—more than 7,500 miles from Charleston and over 24 hours of travel later! I made the journey with my classmate and friend, Maya Andrade, and we’re incredibly excited to spend the next month at Sodo Christian Hospital, where we’ll be rotating through different specialties and working on research projects.

A little about me: I’m currently in the FLEX phase after my second year of medical school at MUSC, participating in the Global Health Track. I haven’t decided on a specialty yet, but I have a strong interest in women’s health and global health. Outside of medicine, I love running and can’t wait to join Dr. Ross, his wife Cheryl, and the other doctors here in Sodo for some runs!
During our time here, we’ll rotate through various specialties, including OB/GYN, pediatrics, general surgery, orthopedic surgery, radiology, plastic surgery, and pediatric surgery. We’ll also be working on research projects, which we’ll present at the Global Health Week Poster Presentation Session on April 11 at MUSC. My project is a quality improvement study evaluating outcomes of intraventricular hemorrhage in neonates following a change in management protocol. I’ll be working alongside Dr. Michelle Yates and other local doctors, and I’m so excited to contribute to such a meaningful initiative.

We’ve only been here for about 24 hours, but I’m already struck by the fascinating contrasts and similarities between Sodo and Charleston both inside and outside the hospital. After flying into Awassa, we had a two-hour drive to Sodo, driving by bustling markets filled with people and goats on leashes. Along the way, we saw children carrying water jugs, men steering donkeys loaded with grass or sticks, and women and children gathered outside their mud huts. I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect, but Ethiopia has already exceeded my expectations in the best way.

We are very excited for our month here, and I can’t wait to share more about this journey with you all—stay tuned!