Welcome to the official blog of the ’09-’10 MM Fellows! We hope to use this page as a forum to share our triumphs, obstacles, goals, and insights as we embark on what promises to be a challenging and incredible year.

The torch has been passed, and we are now in our fourth week at St. Joseph Clinic.  St. Joseph Clinic is a dynamic place, and we've been inspired by the dedication and strong work ethic of the clinic staff.  The doctors, nurses, midwives, and other staff members have helped us learn about how the clinic operates.  Our first weeks have been filled with many small victories and challenges:  we organized the pharmaceutical depot, took an inventory of the surgical depot, dealt with several technical problems (including a lightning strike and subsequent loss of power in the clinic!), and have begun preliminary research for our future projects (more updates to come).

We are immensely grateful to Rita and Nick for facilitating a smooth transition.  They have been incredibly supportive, and have laid a strong foundation for future generations of MM Fellows.  We are committed to solidifying the project that they began:  we recently submitted a report encouraging the continuation of the childhood malnutrition program, and will perform a full-scale program evaluation in the next six months.  The water project has been hugely successful, and two awesome Duke undergraduates (Chrissy Booth and Meryl Colton) are here for the next several weeks, expanding upon Rita's preliminary findings.  We will be continuing the last leg of the study and will later perform a Boutey Soley program evaluation. 

Over the past several weeks, we've come to understand the important balance between completing tangible concrete tasks (e.g. organizing the med depot) and working towards more visionary long-term goals.  Both are essential for our success as MM Fellows.  As we continue to adjust to life in Thomassique - learning Kreyol, making new friends, and setting goals for the upcoming year- we are beginning to understand the endless possibilities that lie ahead of us.  We are thrilled to be here, and excited to share our experiences with all of you!