Heart to Heart

The ICHA Blog

Danielle DeFrancis, RPA-C has worked in the Internal Medicine Department at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Cornell and Columbia, for over five years. Danielle’s years in Internal Medicine have given her a love of cardiology and her travels to developing countries spawned an interest in outreach medicine. During her time in Ghana, Danielle will be one of ICHA’s clinical trainers, providing local medical personnel with the tools to combat endemic levels of cardiac and metabolic disease.

Prior to studying medicine, Danielle studied Opera performance at Carnegie Mellon University. She has participated in Musical Theatre and sung at numerous weddings as a Soprano soloist. Danielle is also an avid sports fan, foodie, travel junkie and lover of the beach, water and boating at sunset.

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Hope for the Future by Danielle DeFrancis on October 13, 2009 | 2 comments

How to describe such an immense experience?  I feel as though I have been through a lifetime and back, however still have not processed the experience fully.  We achieved so much, extending beyond our expectations and yet there remains an endless amount of work left to do. Each step we took opened doors to a whole new set of opportunity and need.

 

 

The Doctor and RN shortage in Ghana is astronomical secondary to lack of relocation incentive packages and lack of local resources.  Ghana only has three medical schools, one of which has yet to graduate its first class.  As of now, Ghana only graduates an average, of about one-hundred medical students a year!  Most of these graduates flock towards the big cities, leaving rural areas barren. At the Elmina Health Center, nurses and medical assistants may see up to one-hundred patients in one morning, leaving patient to clinician ratios unmanageable.  It is under these conditions that we set out to make our impact on lowering CVD. 

 

 

At first, staff was overwhelmed by our presence.  It was too much for them to lengthen their rushed patient interview to ask additional questions and check more clinical values.  We were frustrated at first, but then extremely encouraged by high lecture turnouts and gradual clinical change.  Clinicians traveled from all over the greater KEEA area, during office hours, to attend our lectures.  They did this with enthusiasm for two and a half weeks.  Educational levels varied, so each student took away what they were capable.  All took away an understanding of preventative CVD and Stroke measures, diet and exercise.  Some were able to absorb all we presented and apply them to their own lifestyles and clinical practices.  All yearned for more and begged our speedy return.  As a parting note of encouragement, we traveled to a nearby clinic run by some of our students, where our teachings were in full application.  I look forward to returning to Ghana and expanding to this second clinic.  It is through return repetition and slow expansion that we will make an impact.

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Making a difference by Danielle DeFrancis on August 25, 2009 | 0 comments

I am honored to be a part of the first outreach to Ghana.  As an avid traveler, I have been fortunate enough to see many underdeveloped nations.  My favorite trips have been to areas where I have been able to join the community and culture and return home with a very personal experience. 

 

 

Many of these countries have everyday survival and health related needs.  On a recent trip to Cambodia, I learned that the average life expectancy is only around 50 years of age!  I became aware that lack of knowledge contributed to their limited dietary understanding and lack of exercise, which greatly impact cardiovascular health. 

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