Respiratory medicine, meningitis, mosquitoes... a THRiVE experience!
Written by Dr Robin Gore, Adult Respiratory Clinician, Cambridge University Hospitals.
I recently travelled with colleagues from Cambridge to the THRiVE AGM in Kampala. We co-supervise
a postgraduate student, Richard, at Makerere University in Uganda, so this was a really good
opportunity to meet him and also learn about the wider research activities of the students sponsored
by THRiVE.
I really enjoyed the THRiVE conference. I was really impressed by the quality of the research and the
high calibre of the students at the conference. It was fascinating to be taken out of one's own comfort
zone for a few days (in my case, severe asthma) and learn about research projects ranging from
meningitis to mosquito control. Furthermore, it really helped me to understand the geographical
context in which Richard is working. I absorbed a lot about the organisation of health care in the
country, and now understand better some of the hurdles researchers have to jump in a resourcelimited country.
The THRiVE team are very inclusive, and I ended up taking part in some of the end of year student
assessments, which were rigorous.
I also managed to foster some links with the respiratory physicians at Makerere Institute of
Respiratory Medicine, and we are now making plans for future collaborations.
Supervision by Skype is useful, but to meet Richard and his co-supervisors in person has proven
invaluable in improving the dialogue among us all and the quality of supervision I am able to provide.
If you are considering mentoring a student in East Africa, I'd thoroughly recommend it. You'll learn a
lot about another country and the health care there, and get to meet some very interesting people. If
you are mentoring already but haven't been to a THRiVE AGM, do strongly consider it. The budget
does include money to one mentor visit to the student's place of study.
Visiting the THRiVE AGM was inspirational: Resources are limited, but ambition and a determination
to improve lives are not. Furthermore, it was fun!