APR-A-7
EXCHANGE OF LETTERS WITH TWO MEDICAL STUDENTS
FROM WESTERN ONTARIO INTERESTED IN RESEARCH PROJECTS
AND FURTHER STUDENT EXPERIENCE IN LADAKH
From: Glenn Geelhoed
To: "kdpapay@netscape.net".IA4GW.Harper
Date: 4/4/01 12:21PM
Subject: Re: Ladakh Trip (July 17‑Aug 1)
Good for you!
I know you will enjoy the trek, and the people especially!
I am always looking at questions to be answered, or problems to be solved, and would be happy to join you in a clinical research project.
You have already identified the problem of record keeping and the exact nature of the problem and its outcome in respect to our short stay. Epidemiology is a possible screening, and I have kept a list of ech patinet's diagnosis (if known clinically) and dispostion as they ahve come through our rather fast moving clinical setting.
I had reported some of this on the "On‑Line Journal" of my Home page (see "July,2000"for Ladakh) at http://home.gwu.edu/~gwg I will try to attach a few of the files if it does not risk bombing the whole transmission.
I would be delighterd to publish a more formal survey of the interesting medical/cultural context, since I have an interest in medical anthropology as well as another degree in epidemiology. So, come up with a proposal and I will talk with you further about it!
I am happy to connect you with a few students who will talk with you about thier experiences in Ladakh last year. In the email "CC's" above I have listed the contact points of several students and physicians whose views would be useful to you and several of them have already made reporets are making them for part of a follow‑up on this experience. Amy Hayes can direct you to her web page, and several of the others can tell you fo thier experiences in answer to specific questions you may have.. I know that all of them enjoyed the experience as did I‑‑or we would not be going back to do it again!
I hope this gets you started on your pre‑travel investigations and we will complete your research on the march!
Cheers!
GWG
>>> <kdpapay@netscape.net> 04/04/01 11:08AM >>>
Dear Dr. Geelhoed,
Hi. I don't think we've been introduced yet, I'm the other first year medical student from the University of Western Ontario who will be joining your team on the Ladakh expediction in July. I believe that you've already been in contact with David Ouellette (my classmate).
I hope you don't mind, but I have a couple of questions for you regarding the trip. David and I would like to pursue a research project of some sorts, if that is allowed (ie. are there any restrictions that I may need to know about?. We're not really sure where to begin, but some ideas are forming.
First of all, it would really be helpfull if you knew if any information has been recorded during your trips regarding patient histories and subsequent illnesses/diagnoses and treatments. We may be pushing our luck, as I am assuming that such record taking may be difficult given the elements of the environment, but, if by some chance they are available, do you think we would be able to somehow go over them? ie. we may like to do a "disease prevalence" type of project. Alternatelively, a project from a unique medico‑cultural perspective may also be interesting, although possibly more difficult regarding the short duration of our stay.
Finally, it would be really helpful if we could get in contact with some other students who have participated in your expeditions, i.e. to ask about what we may expect (as students)to experience and possibly get examples of research projects that they may have undertaken.
In any case, we hope to develop a research project that will be appropriate for the type and length of the medical mission, as well as taking into consideration the limits to the resources at hand.
If you have any suggestions I would really appreciate your help. (I'll apologize right now for the length of this e‑mail...sorry.)
Thank you,
Karen Papay
MEDS 2004
University of Western Ontario