November 14, 2023
Four TriHealth doctors recently participated in a medical outreach mission trip in Madagascar, where they provided care to patients in clinics and led educational programs for local healthcare professionals and medical students.
TriHealth physicians who participated were Dr. David Wiltse, Pulmonary Medical Directory for Good Samaritan Hospital, Dr. Huxley Miller, Infectious Disease Specialist, Dr. Borna Mansouri, Internal Medicine Resident, and Dr. Maneet Multani, Internal Medicine Resident.
During their two weeks in Madagascar, the team oversaw general medical clinics for impoverished people in urban Toamasina and nearby villages who have minimal or no access to healthcare, where each physician cared for 12-14 patients per day with a team of medical students in a learning environment. Through the help of local interpreters, the TriHealth doctors provided care to a variety of complex patients. The medical outreach mission was sponsored by Cincinnati-based non-profit Caring Response Madagascar Foundation, founded by Dr. Wiltse’s wife, Virginia, over 20 years ago.
"By going to the same place every year, we have built up a network of colleagues that we support, educate and supply with tools and meds and, most importantly, knowledge. We are able to share professional standards of practice," Dr. Wiltse said. "We also were thrilled to have two senior residents on the trip, Dr. Mansouri and Dr. Multani. It was great to see their energy and enthusiasm and how much they were able to learn from the whole experience."
In addition to providing patient care, the TriHealth physicians offered lectures for local hospitals and medical students. The topics included HIV/Aids, Abdominal Tuberculosis, Asthma/COPD and Heart Failure.
For Dr. Mansouri and Dr. Multani, this medical outreach mission trip resulted in a unique learning experience as senior residents. “This experience taught me the importance of being an educator in all situations,” Dr. Multani said, “We shared information on both simple and complicated topics with the medical students in Madagascar, which is something that we can do for patients as well.”
“I gained an appreciation for the collaboration I have experienced in my residency at Good Samaritan Hospital, as the culture in Madagascar does not allow for questioning between attendings and students” Dr. Mansouri said, “I also am appreciative of all of the resources we have in the United States, after seeing the barriers to care for both patients and hospitals.”
In addition to medical outreach, Caring Response Madagascar Foundation supports education, literacy and economic self-development efforts in Madagascar. Learn more at www.caringresponse.org.
