Tania Thomas Reflection – Exploring & Contributing to Global Health in Uganda: Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience

Tania Thomas, College of Pharmacy student, was awarded a Center for Global Health Student & Trainee Travel Grant to pursue a global health project in Masindi, Uganda. View more photos of her time in country in this Flickr photo gallery.

My journey to Masindi Kitara Hospital in Uganda was born from a desire to understand how medicine is practiced beyond the borders of the United States. I wanted to immerse myself in a healthcare system where innovation is often born out of necessity, and where empathy and adaptability are as essential as clinical knowledge. What I encountered was far more than a clinical rotation, it was a transformative experience that reshaped how I view medicine, humanity, and my role as a future provider.

On my very first day, I encountered a patient diagnosed with peritonitis. Naturally, my first inclination as a pharmacy student was to ask for cultures and susceptibility only to learn that such resources were not available. I stood there, stunned. In the U.S., I would have relied on a full diagnostic workup and a tailored antibiotic regimen. But in that moment, I realized that my knowledge alone was not enough. I needed to adapt, to think critically, rely on physical exams, and make decisions based on the tools we had, not the ones I wished for. That moment marked a turning point. I began to understand that practicing medicine in a resource-limited setting demands not only clinical acumen, but creativity, humility, and resilience.

Over the next few weeks, I encountered a wide range of conditions such as malaria, sickle cell disease, HIV, bacterial infections, and several cases of organophosphate poisoning. Each required me to listen, understand, and contribute in a way that honored patients’ beliefs and cultures while recommending the best possible medication based on available resources. I rounded on the general and maternity wards, collaborated in the ART clinic, and observed surgeries ranging from cesarean sections to orthopedic procedures. My preceptor challenged me to make patient-centered recommendations that balanced evidence-based care with the realities of limited diagnostics and medications. On Fridays, I joined the vaccine clinic, providing immunizations to children, a joyful reminder of the power of prevention.