Indirect Effects

Before I decided to do a PhD in Epidemiology, I struggled between a clinical or public health degree. Being an epidemiologist might not be the best way for most people to feel like they're making a meaningful contribution, but I knew I wasn't cut out for day to day patient care, mainly when I realized it was frowned upon to invite every patient home to personally oversee their improvement. I also tried lab science and healthcare policy and found them to be more removed than I wanted to be.

Why epidemiology? Yes, it's mainly a methods based discipline which can be as far removed from direct patient care as you want it to be. On the other hand, it seems to be a field where non-clinicians can learn about clinical care and help patients, or at least help clinicians to help patients. It also appeals to my desire to collect, organize and interpret information. And, (don't judge) I like coding.

As a non-clinician, non-native working in Malawi, it's tough to know what's important. What can I do that will a) be useful; b) help; and c) not offend anyone.

The pace. In addition to not knowing where to start, once you make a decision to proceed in one direction, it takes awhile. You have to talk to a lot of people, set up lots of meetings, go through the motions and try to (clearly) explain what you think you want to do. Not a terribly easy task.

No matter what you do, you end up wishing you could do more.