Atlas Global Health

🌟 Big News! 🌟

We're thrilled to announce a blossoming partnership between Traveling Doctors and Atlas Global Health, propelled by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors' motion (https://shorturl.at/egvNO) from November 2023. Together, we're harnessing the potential of this motion to support Armenia's healthcare infrastructure in the wake of the Artsakh crisis, marking a pivotal moment in our humanitarian efforts.

Initiated by Supervisors Lindsey P. Horvath and Kathryn Barger, the motion is a powerful call for collaboration, humanitarian aid, and educational initiatives. It enables both our teams, alongside LA County's medical professionals, to extend our reach and impact, providing essential care and support where it's needed most.

We feel fortunate to have connected with Dr. Joseph Kalanzi, Dr. Mary Ellen Lyon (.maryellen), and the remarkable residents from the Makerere Emergency Medicine program. Witnessing the impactful work they do for patients in Kampala is truly inspiring.

Even with their resource limitations, we know the devices we provided will make a positive impact for the care they can deliver. We eagerly anticipate collaborating on a train-the-trainer course and expanding our support to regional hospitals across Uganda.

A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Jessica Schmidt and the team from the University of Wisconsin Department of Emergency Medicine () for inviting us to contribute to this initiative. We look forward to partnering on future programs.

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Jessica Schmidt’s team from the University of Wisconsin was truly an honor.

Together, we organized an ultrasound education course to enhance the physicians’ capabilities and introduce new advancements for the benefit of all patients at the hospital.

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we successfully raised funds to donate two ultrasound devices to the program, ensuring our contribution continues to make a difference even after our departure.

We look forward to seeing the incredible things these physicians will accomplish.

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This past weekend, our journey took us to Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, where we were graciously hosted by Dr. Ybel Fermin and the HRUJCMB Emergency Medicine Residency Program.

We had the opportunity to observe physicians from the University of Connecticut Emergency Medicine Residency Program taking charge of an ultrasound education workshop, unveiling their commitment to advancing medical knowledge in the local healthcare landscape.

Looking ahead, our commitment deepens. In the upcoming months, our return to the DR is earmarked for a purpose – to equip the dedicated residents with new ultrasound devices. This strategic initiative aims to enhance their diagnostic capabilities, fostering resilience in the face of substantial healthcare challenges.

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Help contribute to our upcoming project!

Atlas Global Health: Ugandan Ultrasound Education, organized by Ashkon Ansari Dear friends, supporters, and compassionate individuals, Uganda f… Ashkon Ansari needs your support for Atlas Global Health: Ugandan Ultrasound Education

In numerous parts of our world, the detection of fetal distress during childbirth relies on simple hearing devices, a reality we encountered during our visit to PNG. While these devices are helpful, they don’t always paint the whole picture.

In February, our project leads us to Uganda, with the goal of creating a lasting influence on the local healthcare landscape. We’re introducing easy-to-use ultrasound technology and education to Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, an institution that handles an astonishing 30,000 births each year—equivalent to one birth occurring approximately every 20 minutes!

With some of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, our initiative seeks to empower Ugandan healthcare workers to more accurately identify high-risk pregnancies and triage them appropriately. By bridging the gap in prenatal care, we aspire to decrease risks for both mothers and babies, contributing to a healthier and safer birthing experience.

Join us as we strive to make a meaningful impact and advocate for improved equal healthcare globally. To learn how to get involved go to atlas-global.org

The challenges faced by Uganda are profound, with the highest incidence rate of malaria globally (478 cases per 1000 people per year) and one of the highest maternal mortality rates worldwide (330 deaths per 100,000 births). The prevalence of HIV (5% of adults), tuberculosis (3% of the total population), and trauma-related deaths (25% of all deaths in Kampala) compounds the gravity of the situation.

In February 2024, we’ll be in Kampala and Mbale, collaborating closely with Dr. William Okiror (Mbale Regional Referral Hospital), Dr. Jessica Schmidt (University of Wisconsin), and the Emergency Medicine Residency at Makerere University. Our focus is to implement both established and innovative ultrasound techniques to mitigate the morbidity and mortality associated with these conditions.

We’ve begun the journey with some funding, but with further contributions we will be able to achieve our goal of improving access to quality healthcare in Uganda. Your support matters.
Visit atlas-global.org for more information

In our pursuit to expand healthcare access in Guatemala, we sought to implement ultrasound technology. However, we quickly realized it was already very accessible and adding more devices wouldn't address the deeper challenges faced at hospitals like . Rather than imposing our vision, with the help of Dr. Manuel Gonzalez and Lyn Dickey, we immersed ourselves in the reality of local healthcare, learning the value of understanding before proposing change.

This pivotal moment led to introspection and a shift in approach, emphasizing collaboration for genuine progress. By placing community needs at the forefront, we've strengthened our bonds with local professionals in order to delve into the core of the issues. Though our impact is not yet realized, our ongoing commitment pushes us to explore collaborations that will enhance prehospital care in Santiago Atitlan.

This journey reinforces that sustainable change requires empathy, patience, and a dedicated understanding of the communities we serve. Let's continue this path of humility, standing shoulder to shoulder with those we aim to support.

Mount Hagen General Hospital serves a population of 400,000 people in the Western Highlands and functions as a regional referral center for approximately 3.7 million people. Despite resource constraints, the healthcare workers at Mount Hagen go above and beyond, delivering some of the most impactful and thoughtful care in Papua New Guinea. In partnership with the PNG Society of Emergency Medicine and we have successfully implemented point-of-care ultrasound at Mount Hagen General Hospital, addressing the challenge of extended waiting times, often exceeding 24 hours, for advanced imaging and testing. The result is faster diagnoses, improved patient care, and a reduced financial burden in seeking healthcare. We remain dedicated to continuing such initiatives worldwide. To learn more or join us in making a difference visit atlas-global.org. Together, we forge a path towards accessible, efficient, impactful, healthcare, worldwide.

Thrilled to introduce our NGO, inspired by our work with , , and the Papua New Guinea Society of Emergency Medicine. Our mission: forging sustainable healthcare partnerships between local leaders and international aid donors.

During our time in Mount Hagen, we developed a train-the-trainer program, incorporating portable ultrasound in patient care. This collaboration has been a driving force in shaping the ultrasound curriculum nationwide, empowering emergency medicine physicians to bridge critical gaps in healthcare when other resources may be lacking.

Check out the website for our new NGO by clicking the link in our bio or go to https://atlas-global.org