Going to Medical School - in Nepal

Anne Goodwin, '95, helps train badly-needed physicians

Wednesday, July 9, 2003

Anne Goodwin, ’95, has never actually been to medical school – but that didn’t stop her, this spring, from lending her considerable expertise on the human heart to teaching a whole new generation of doctors who will be a great benefit to one of the world’s poorest countries.  Goodwin spent two months as an assistant professor at Kathmandu University Medical School, Nepal, leading a group of first-year medical students through the anatomy, physiology and pathology of the cardiovascular system, the focus of her research over the past several years.

Anne Goodwin, '95, in the Annapurna Himalayas of Nepal in April, 2003.  Goodwin spent two months at Kathmandu Medical School, teaching a specialized course in cardiolgy to medical students.. Photo courtesy of Anne Goodwin.
 

Goodwin is currently finishing her doctorate in cell biology at Harvard University, studying angiogenesis, or blood vessel growth, a key component in normal development and in tumor growth.  Despite being at a critical stage of her doctoral thesis, when she heard about the project, Goodwin was happy to participate.  “I like to teach,” says Goodwin simply, explaining why she agreed to interrupt her research and doctoral work, for a volunteer job a world away from the comforts of home.  “It seemed like a great opportunity.”

The KUMS medical curriculum is modeled after the case-based learning system used at Harvard.  In addition to lectures, students had a weekly case assignment, based on prevalent cardiovascular diseases in Nepal.  “This gives the students a chance to apply the knowledge directly to a problem,” explained Goodwin.  “The small group sessions were a highlight of the course.”

Although Goodwin’s students were studying medicine with the intention of staying in Nepal and providing general care to Nepalese citizens, all spoke fluent English and did all their medical school training in English.  Goodwin, who has had teaching experience at the community college and university levels, was impressed with her students’ readiness to learn.  “They’re quite well prepared,” she notes.  “They were really enthusiastic, wanted to hear about the United States, to learn about everything I could tell them.  I really had to scramble to keep up.”
 

Goodwin (front row, left) with a fellow volunteer professor and some of their students, enjoying a night out.    Photo courtesy of Anne Goodwin.

 
Goodwin spent only six weeks actually teaching in Nepal, but is justifiably pleased about the contribution she was able to make in that quick time.  “The permanent faculty are mostly retired Indian faculty and newly trained doctors … they have the technical expertise and know first-hand what medical issues are most important in Nepal,” she explains.  “Visiting faculty like me help them with up-to-date teaching materials, both style and content.  We also help a lot with the teaching load.”

And while Goodwin understood that her contributions were desperately needed – and greatly appreciated – at the school, she is quick to note that she gained some valuable lessons as well.  “When you’re in Nepal, you don’t have unlimited access to paper for copying.  You have to assume the power’s going to go out.  Flexibility and creativity are so important – when you don’t have something you just have to use something else.  I really took away a new way of looking at my life and things around me and not taking things so seriously.”

Goodwin (at right) with her group of cardiac physiology students.  Photo by Jake Weber.

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