Dr. Ugnė Vaiciulyte from Vilnius, Lithuania, experienced a transformative journey after attending the Internal Medicine seminar at the OMI in Salzburg. There, she met Dr. Abraham Sisay Abie, which led to an unforgettable placement at St. Paul’s Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Her time in Ethiopia broadened her perspective, strengthened her dedication to nephrology, and reminded her how one opportunity can open doors worldwide.
Dear OMI team,
I am writing to express my sincere gratitude to the OMI and everyone involved in the Internal Medicine seminar that I had the opportunity to attend more than a year ago.
That experience played a key role in shaping my career path. The chance to present a clinical case helped me gain confidence and valuable insights into how to give better presentations at conferences. Lessons I have since successfully applied in other events. The lectures were not only highly informative but also interactive and inspiring, strengthening my interest in nephrology.
The connections I made have also opened new doors. Thanks to Dr. Abraham Sisay Abie, whom I met in Salzburg, I had the opportunity to be an observer in one of the largest hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I spent four weeks at the St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where I was primarily attached to the nephrology department. During my placement, I had the opportunity to closely follow the work in both the nephrology ward and the dialysis center. I observed various medical procedures, including renal biopsies and central venous catheter placement for dialysis.
I was also actively involved in the educational activities of the department, taking part in seminars, clinical rounds, and case discussions. The clinicians I worked with greatly impressed me, despite the challenges of a low-resource setting, their clinical skills, diagnostic reasoning, and dedication to patient care were truly exceptional. This experience broadened my perspective on medicine and sparked a deeper interest in nephrology. My experience in Ethiopia strengthened my passion for nephrology, motivating me to apply for a nephrology fellowship upon completing my Internal Medicine residency.
I can confidently say that I now have colleagues, and friends, across the world, with whom I stay in touch. I am deeply grateful for this network, and the lasting impact OMI has had on my professional and personal development. My heartfelt thanks go to the entire OMI team, to the Internal Medicine course director Dr. Kristin M. Burkart, and to all the professors who made this experience so meaningful.
With warm regards,
UgnÄ— VaiÄŤiulytÄ—, MD
Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos
Lithuania
