Sickle Cell Disease Research in Tanzania

At Muhimbili National Hospital and Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Dr. Edwards taught medical student didactics as part of the UGHE curriculum, with a focus on pediatric topics during their pediatrics clerkship. He joined medical students and local/visiting attendings on rounds under the guidance of the supervising Rwandan practitioner to learn more about the practice of medicine on the inpatient wards in Butaro Hospital's pediatric unit, provided bedside teaching to medical students, and facilitated daily morning reports where medical students presented clinical cases. During his rotation, he was able to initiate, continue or complete academic projects, including 1) a secondary analysis of the zinc therapeutic dose trial conducted at MNH and a partner site in India. 2) In collaboration with Dr. Dimple Rathod, they drafted a case report surrounding a patient with pancytopenia following malarial infection with initial concern for acute leukemia, ruled out by bone marrow biopsy. 3) In collaboration with MUHAS Hematology Master's student, Dr. Primus Ewald, Dr. Edwards worked on a paper discussing the perspectives of individuals from both resource-advantaged and resource-constrained settings in the process of a global health partnership. Additionally, 4) together with Drs. Primus Ewald and Collin Kanza, Dr. Edwards co-developed a research study investigating the role of vitamin D in avascular necrosis development in sickle cell disease.