Date of Award

5-2026

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Departmental Honors

Department

Biological Engineering

Abstract

Uganda faces significant barriers to health care access, particularly in rural communities, due to physician shortages and limited resources. As a result, care is concentrated in urban areas, leaving rural populations disproportionately affected by both communicable and noncommunicable diseases.

This Honors Capstone project focused on preparing for and supporting the iHelp Foundation’s 2025 Uganda Medical Mission. The iHelp Foundation works to reduce barriers to care in Uganda by partnering with local hospitals to provide short-term rural clinics and specialized surgical care for advanced otolaryngological conditions.

In this project, I contributed to mission preparation by training volunteers and coordinating physician licensing. I also digitized and analyzed over 400 patient care records from the 2024 mission to inform medication procurement and resource allocation. During the mission, I supported clinical care by collecting patient histories, obtaining vital signs, triaging patients, and assisting volunteer physicians in both short-term rural clinics and surgical settings.

The iHelp Foundation team provided care to over 750 patients across 7 rural communities and supported surgical treatment for 9 patients with advanced otolaryngological conditions, including large thyroid goiters and tonsillar hypertrophy. My contributions to data analysis and logistical preparations helped improve resource allocation and expand patient access to care compared to previous missions. This project highlights the importance of data-informed planning, reflection, and interdisciplinary teamwork in improving health care delivery in resource-limited settings.

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Faculty Mentor

Travis Peterson

Departmental Honors Advisor

Lukas Buecherl

Capstone Committee Member

Savannah Daines