Dr. Daher and Adam in the University Library after getting the tour.

Brazil
Summer 2015

"Brazil is a country with both an extraordinarily vibrant culture and incredibly caring people. During my time in the country’s capital Brasilia, I participated in a cardiology rotation that started at Hospital de Base and led me to the Federal Cardiology Institute. I saw patients from all walks of life, while working alongside medical students, residents and attending physicians. The resources available to physicians really struck me during my time there. Currently, being seen in an emergency room is strictly for those patients who are critically ill. Even then, it is sometimes impossible to help patients simply because the resources needed to do so are not available. For any of my medicine colleagues reading this ---yes, Chagas Disease is real and not just a board exam question!

"Outside of the hospital, I had an excellent time exploring the city with an old friend and my fiancé, both of whom are from the area originally. Over the course of the month, we took a few trips to surrounding areas where I was able to not only enjoy the sites, but also see how people truly lived. One of my biggest passions in medicine is to see where people live and how it impacts their health, so for my inner-nerd, this was excellent!

"If you ever do travel to Brazil for any type of medical endeavor, I have these words of advice for you: be safe, be aware, and be courteous. You’re representing not only your country, but also the medical professionals of the United States."