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to show that higher complications In January 2020, neurosurgeon but Mesfin had brought his from
and mortality are associated Abraham Gebremedihen, who the U.S. and teamed up on the
with low-volume hospitals and practices in Addis Ababa, case in the OR.
surgeons operating on patients Ethiopia, traveled to URMC as
with metastatic spine disease. part of a North American Spine “It was a privilege to operate with
It strengthens the argument Society (NASS) fellowship to Dr. Mesfin,” Gebremedihen said.
for establishing a center of learn from URMC surgeons, In a country where physical labor
excellence in Rochester to sustain residents and fellows—and is the only livelihood open to so
high volumes of patients for such to teach them his experience many, Gebremedihen said, the
specialized procedures. offering surgery in a challenging patient “wouldn’t have lived long
environment where resources with those disabilities. The last
International outreach: are scarce. time I saw him was three months
Mesfin has been awarded four after surgery, and he was walking
competitive traveling fellowships, In two weeks, Gebremedihen saw to work. I will always remember
where he had the opportunity to “much more than I expected— that moment.”
observe advanced approaches minimally invasive procedures,
from world-leading spine microsurgery, spine fixation While Gebremedihen was in
surgeons as well as sharing his techniques, and spine injections Rochester, one of Mesfin’s
research and experience. That for pain management.” orthopaedics chief residents
knowledge informs his work was at his hospital in Ethiopia to
with patients and residents, and He recounted Mesfin’s visit to complete an elective as part of his
has fostered ongoing research Ethiopia the prior year and a surgical training.
projects with colleagues around case they worked on together. A “The world is getting smaller,”
the world. Mesfin is one of five young man in his 20s suffered a Mesfin said. “The more we
surgeons in the world awarded fracture dislocation of a spine collaborate and expose our
a spot in the 2021 American after a horse and cart rolled over international colleagues to what
Orthopaedic Association’s ABC on him; facing the prospect of we are doing here, the better. It’s
(American-British-Canadian) paraplegia, he was transported a good way to build our expertise
traveling fellowship. The ABC is 125 miles for care, by cart. The and share the expertise of the
the premier fellowship available hospital in Addis Ababa didn’t University of Rochester.”
to orthopaedic surgeons, and have the necessary instruments,
many chairs and orthopaedic
society presidents are counted
among its alumni. The month-
long fellowship tour, postponed “ The world is getting
due to COVID, will take place in smaller. The more we
spring 2022.
collaborate and expose our
Global medical/cultural international colleagues to
exchanges: Mesfin has traveled
to Ethiopia three times in recent what we are doing here,
years as a visiting surgeon, the better. It’s a good way
bringing his skills to a nation to build our expertise and
where spine surgeons face share the expertise of the
significant challenges. There
are very few of them serving University of Rochester. ”
millions of patients across a wide Addisu Mesfin, M.D.
geographic area.
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