Foreign Transaction Fees

Those fees will really get you.  Usually credit cards charge 3% per charge when traveling internationally.  I remember when I was gearing up for my trip along the Trans-Siberian Railway 2 years ago, I really wanted a credit card that did not have foreign transaction fees.  I have always prided myself for having excellent credit, so I figured I would be instantly approved for this Capital One Venture card I had been eyeing for months.  As soon as I applied for the credit card, I sat back and thought to myself how sweet it will be to not have to worry about those pesky fees while I spend 3 months traveling.  I was picturing myself potentially being robbed somewhere in Siberia, and imagining my future self simply smiling and saying to my future bandit, "Jokes on you! I only carry credit!  That card will be inactivated before you even have a chance to swipe it!"  Who carries cash these days anyways.  I was suddenly snapped out of my dream world when I noticed the website had finished loading - Credit card denied.  What happened?  Oh, right, LASIK doesn't come cheap and I had taken out a line of no interest credit to pay it off incrementally... Needless to say, I did not have a fancy no foreign transaction fee credit card for that trip.

Well, 2012 is a new year!  My LASIK is long since paid off, so I figured I would once again attempt to obtain the elusive Capital One Venture credit card.  I am proud to say that I was approved and am ready to start traveling, fee free!  Now, I just need to contact my old travel buddy and find out how to go about getting a checking account for his bank that did not charge ATM fees.     

Smoking Ban - finally!

While perusing the WHO website today, I found these awesome articles.

Ukrainian Health Legislation:
I just found out that in June 2012, Ukraine passed a smoking ban that made it illegal to smoke in restaurants, bars, clubs, cafes, etc.  There has also been a ban on smoking advertisements!  Let's hope this is one step closer to a smoke free world.   

Interesting facts:

• 163,000 Americans die each year from lung cancer.  
• In the US, the tobacco epidemic is responsible for 30% of all cancer deaths, meaning that lung cancer accounts for more deaths than the next four (!) leading cancers combined.
• California has been able to decrease the prevalence of smoking from 24% to 12% via aggressive anti-smoking campaigns. 

Not only will these new legislations make education about about dangers of smoking somewhat easier in a country where smoking is as common as drinking coffee, but now I no longer have to worry about getting burnt by flailing cigarettes while dancing at night clubs!  Win-win.


*Interesting facts courtesy of http://www.insidecancer.org/

Donations and Good News!

Well, so far things are coming along much better than I had anticipated.  I have a few contacts lined up that I need to call this week.  Some have experience with medical nonprofits, clinical outreach, grant writing, and one even worked at the Ukrainian consulate.  A relative of my finance also put me in touch with another contact who may have some flu vaccines that she would like to donate.  It is a good thing I have an International Air Transportation Association (IATA) certification to handle, process and ship bio-hazardous materials!  Shipping vaccines to Ukraine definitely require more research...  maybe this friend from the Ukrainian consulate will have insight into the legality of the task at hand.  When I have some spare time, I intend to read the WHO online booklet on shipping vaccines found here.

Speaking of vaccines, I should reacquaint myself with all the different vaccines offered through Vaccines for Children (VFC).  I bet the VFC regional representative that works with my dad's clinic may be able to help me figure out how to safely ship them so they stay within their temperature range.  I can't believe it has been 5 years since I worked for VFC and the Public Health Department in Richmond, CA!  Oh, how time flies.

First monetary donation:
I am excited to say that my parents are generously donating some money to my cause!  I plan to start fundraising after I get back this summer and/or have nonprofit status, but having some funds to start with is definitely helpful.  My dad is considering flying to Ukraine to spend a week with me too!  I am looking forward to having a doctor present, especially since that MD will be my dad.  We are going to figure it all out when I fly to California in a couple weeks.  My parents always have been my heroes and faithful supporters - big shout out to Mama and Papa for their generosity!

Recent thoughts:
I should read as much about the health situation in Ukraine as possible - new legislations, recent outbreaks, statistics, etc.  More research on the WHO website is in order.

Well, maybe after my Physiology and Genetics finals... one step at a time.
   

Suturing and Infectious Diseases

Last night I played softball with the rest of my team, the Endorphinatics.  I was talking to the Physician Assistant in between innings about his time volunteering in Costa Rica.  His advice was to learn to suture, and know my infectious diseases and the antibiotics that treat them.  

Great advice.  My dad is going to teach me how to suture in a couple weeks when I am back in California working at his clinic.  After working at a psychiatric research clinic, I realize things can get ugly if you live in a group home or partially on the streets.  On occasion, we have patients who need stitches removed or who have cuts that need attention.  Might as well knock one skill that I will be learning in PA school down!

The second piece of advice will be a little more difficult to follow through with.  First of all, even if I knew exactly which infection or disease merited which antibiotic, who's to say that drug will even be available?  Thinking about how I would bring extensive amounts of medications into Ukraine reminded me of this smuggling story from My Trans-Siberian Journey - As I was going to St. Ives.  Something tells me that flashing a big American smile and being waved right past customs won't work this time.

My arsenal of medical skills:

• Vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, temperature) 
• Ear examination using an otoscope (compliments of my dad)
• Blood glucose test 
• Blood test (if a suitable lab is found)
• General health education

      
Does anyone else have any advice on medical skills I should start working on?  I am excited to get to work!

Я еду домой! : I am going home!

Well, not quite.  Actually I am home...right now.  Over the years I have come to call many places my home - Los Angeles, Berkeley, San Francisco, Austin, etc.  One of those many places is Odessa, Ukraine.

I am excited to announce that this summer I am returning home to Odessa to volunteer at the wonderful Ukrainian nonprofit known as The Way Home.  For those of you who read My Trans-Siberian Journey, I appreciate your loyalty in continuing to follow me, regardless of where I go and what I am doing!  You might remember stories about my time in Odessa in 2010.  Volunteering at The Way Home helped me realize how rewarding international volunteer work is.  I admit that I am no Mother Teresa, but I have always known I want to help people in some way, shape or form.  Yesterday, I took one step closer to making my dream of being a professional international volunteer a reality.

The Plan:
This summer, I am going back to The Way Home in Odessa, Ukraine to volunteer.  This time, when I show up and they ask me, "What do you want to do?" I won't stare back at them dumbfounded by the question.  I know what I want to do - I want to start a medical outreach program that serves the vulnerable populations found in Odessa.  I will be in Odessa for 4 weeks volunteering at a clinic that currently works with The Way Home.  While I am there, I will get a better idea how I can organize a volunteer based program that helps The Way Home treat the street kids, drug users and homeless who reside in Odessa.  

The Preparations:
In preparation for this trip, I am brushing up on my Russian language skills.  I have also picked up a Pocket Medical Russian book to help me learn vital phrases.  
I am looking into potential medical distributers that will donate supplies that I can take with me or have shipped.  I am learning more medical skills from my role model, my MD dad.  I will also be seeking help from people who have set up similar aid programs or have volunteered for an international medical program.  I need to look into the rules and regulations regarding shipping medical supplies, and regarding practicing medicine without a Ukrainian license in the event that my dad wants to come help me get this project started.

The Future:
If this summer goes the way I hope it will, I will start the paperwork to make this program a 501c3 nonprofit organization.  I will start writing grant proposals and look for a team that is passionate about my vision.  I will fundraise and start planning for the following summer - look for more suplies, volunteers and funding.  Hopefully I can use my future Physician Assistant (PA)  program to help me recruit enthusiastic PA students to go abroad and deliver medical care.  Lastly, I will come up with a good name for this organization!  

Links to previous blog - My Trans-Siberian Journey:
My Kids
Through your Eyes
Social Patrol

"It's just a flesh wound"

There are some perks to hanging around people who aren't studying exactly what you are studying.  In my case, whenever something goes medically wrong, or whenever something is bleeding, I get a call.  In my friend's case, when he split his finger open, he didn't have to go to the emergency room.

Last semester, I got a call at about 1PM on a Friday.  It went something like this:

Friend: "Hey, Erika... um... I cut my finger with a kitchen knife and I don't know if I should go to the ER."

Erika: "Oh no, how long has it been bleeding?"

Friend: "About half an hour..."

Erika: "I'll be right over."

I grabbed what was left of my EMT supplies and rushed over.  When I arrive, he explained that his room mate, also a law student, was too disturbed with the sight of blood to help him.  

Minor Finger Laceration

Upon examination, I realize that it was "just a flesh wound" and stitches would not be warranted.  I had learned at an early age when a cut or scrap was serious from my MD father.  I would often run to him crying when I had cut my toe running on asphalt.  He would look at it, give me a hug, and tell me it's just a flesh wound.  "Band-aids won't help," he'd explain, "We will just put some hydrogen peroxide and alcohol on it and it will heal up just fine."  I could see that the superficial skin layer, the epidermis, had been damaged, but the deeper layer of the dermis was not.  So, I told my friend it was just a flesh wound and gave him roughly the same treatment my dad would have given me.  I cleaned his injury with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and some Neosporin.  Although, unlike my dad, I believe in the powers of band-aids, especially when flaps of skin are involved.  So, I tightly wrapped a band-aid around his finger to make sure the skin flap healed properly.  

This was early in my career as a personal on-call EMT, so unfortunately I didn't have the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) at the time.  I washed my hands thoroughly with soap and water both before and after treating the site.  Since then, I have increased my stock of medical supplies and am proud to say I now stash a box of gloves in my apartment.  Just in case my medical services are ever unexpectedly needed again!

Healed Finger

This is a picture taken months after the incident.  Glad to know he didn't have to waste his time at the emergency department over such a minor laceration. 

Osteogenesis Imperfecta

After an incredibly memorable summer in Dallas, TX and Newport Beach, CA, I am proud to say that I will inevitably be returning back to my roots and settling down in California.  Now that I know I will be exclusively applying to PA programs in Southern California, I will not have to take the much dreaded course, Organic Chemistry!  Hooray!  This semester I am taking Physiology (for science majors!) and Genetics.  My class load seems sparse, so I plan on filling the gaps by working at the psychiatric research clinic and volunteering.  

Let's start with some physiology.  On the first day of class, my teacher wrote, "Osteogenesis Imperfecta" on the board and asked us to tell her what we thought it meant.  I rose my hand and answered, "Imperfect creation of bone."  Translated literally, I was correct but I didn't really have any idea what causes the disorder or its specific symptoms.  My teacher went on to explain that Osteogenesis Imperfecta is also known as Brittle Bones Disease and that she, in fact, has this condition.  She shared this personal medical history with us because she stated it will at times affect her teaching.  I feel like I owe it to her to spend a few minutes researching this disorder and sharing it here. 

According to PubMed Health, Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is a congenital disorder (present when you are born) that affects the gene that produces collagen, one of the fundamental tissues found in the body.  OI is Autosomal Dominant so if you managed to obtain the OI gene from a parent who is affected by the disorder, you will also inherit the condition.  There are a number of symptoms associated with OI, but all those affected by the disorder have brittle bones and are susceptible to fractures.  People with OI are often below average height, have early hearing loss, bowed legs and arms and scoliosis or an s-curvatures found in the spine.  One trait I found especially interesting is that the sclera, white of the eye, has a blueish tint.  

The prognosis depends on the type or severity of one's OI case.  Those with a mild case such as my teacher, will likely experience fragile bones, blue scleras, early hearing loss, and height impairment, but will ultimately live a normal lifespan.  Good news for my Physiology teacher!