The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 34 COVID patients today, up from 37 Monday. Other significant numbers:

• 25 with the active virus today, 26 Monday
• 2 in ICU, 3 Monday
• 1 on ventilators, 2 Monday
• 9 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, 11 Monday

Key points from today’s guests:

Dr. Archie Heddings, international orthopedic trauma fellowship director, orthopedic surgeon

• Described international orthopedic trauma fellowship program
• Explained that a fellow is a doctor who has completed medical school and residency and is receiving advanced training in a subspecialty area
• Ethiopia has a big need for trauma surgeons. It is the second largest country in Africa with 45 million people, but only 87 hospitals with just over 11-thousand beds to serve the entire country.
• Wanted to establish a program that would make trauma care self-sustaining in Ethiopia rather than rely on visiting foreign doctors

Dr. Abiy Haile, Ethiopian fellow

• Came to KU for training after meeting Dr. Heddings on a medical trip to Ethiopia in 2018
• Fellowship program lasts one year
• Calls it “a dream come true” that he will be able to help patients back home with complex traumas that could not be helped before
• Was “overwhelmed” by the number of surgical instruments available to trauma surgeons here compared to what he’s used to
• Says the winter in Kansas City took a while to get used to

Dr. Solomon Mengistu, Ethiopian fellow

• Originally completed residency in trauma surgery, but has spent last three decades in general practice
• Was excited at opportunity to gain advanced training in trauma surgery which will make a definite difference in the healthcare of Ethiopians
• Has learned a lot of new skills in the eight months he’s been training
• Loves the friendly people of Kansas City and has tried barbecue

Ravali Reddy, KU Medical student

• As a medical student, works for the African Trauma Initiative, which is focused on obtaining medical equipment for Ethiopians
• Explained research that showed why trauma cases are on the rise, and why they are especially hard to treat in underserved countries like Ethiopia

Dr. Terrence Epie, Cameroon physician, MBA student

• Taking a different approach to helping his fellow citizens in Cameroon
• Hopes to find sustainable ways of health financing for poorer countries

Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director Infection Prevention and Control, The University of Kansas Health System

• COVID numbers at the health system have leveled off in the mid 20’s
• Optimistic that number will go down in the next couple of weeks
• President Biden says he is thinking of not shaking hands during upcoming middle eastern trip, but surfaces are not the issue. It’s all about respiratory precautions.
• May know in a few weeks whether a second booster for everyone, not just those 50 and older, is recommended

Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer, The University of Kansas Health System

• Explained that visiting foreign trauma surgeons can treat only about 15 or 20 patients in the week they are there. But training doctors to do it allows for hundreds of patients to be helped and then thousands as the knowledge spreads.
• Agrees with the CDC that right now there are probably a lot more COVID cases than are being reported, leaving us with a blind spot about the actual number of cases
• Took time to praise Dr. Chris Perriman, a fellow chief medical officer from Saint Luke’s, who died recently

Friday, July 15 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. Using a single beam to beat cancer…it's been two months since our Proton Therapy Center opened and you’ll meet two of the first patients and hear their success stories as well as meet their doctors.

ATTENTION: media procedure for joining:

Zoom link: https://kumc-ois.zoom.us/j/7828978628

Telephone Zoom link: 1-312-626-6799, meeting ID: 782 897 8628

TVU Grid link: UoK_Health_SDI

Restream links: Facebook.com/kuhospital

YouTube.com/kuhospital

Send advance questions to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.