Sean Bernfeld, a first-year medical student on the Global Health Immersion Program (GHIP), went to Uganda to work with Hospice Africa Uganda, which provides support for patients with HIV/AIDS and cancer.  Bernfeld said he wasn’t sure what he was going to do while he was there, but he had brought his camera, and a photo project was born. 

During routine visits with hospice nurses, patients began to request pictures when they saw Bernfeld’s camera.  Most patients had no access to a camera or had a photo of themselves.  The service was then offered to all patients. A patient, who wanted a photo taken, signed a consent form and photos were printed at a local print shop (Prints were 40 cents). The photos were then placed in a patient’s chart. Photographs were taken of 14 patients with such great results that a Canon Powershot-Z was donated to the hospice nurses so the project could continue.

Said Bernfeld: “Patient reactions were overwhelmingly positive — many smiled, some showed the photograph to family members, and one woman excitedly demonstrated how she was going to hang her photo on her wall. Others declared they would give the picture to family or keep it to show visitors.”
Judges said Bernfeld’s project touched them. He was one of two poster presenters who received $250.

This is a blog post by Bobbi Nodell from the 11th Annual Western Regional International Health Conference, held at UW April 4-6, 2014.