February 2025 – The East African Biodesign Fellowship’s clinical immersion phase reached its culmination with a comprehensive four-week program that provided fellows with unprecedented access to healthcare delivery systems across the region. During the initial three weeks, each cohort conducted intensive observations within hospitals in their respective countries, gaining invaluable insights into local healthcare challenges and opportunities.

The program’s highlight was the combined clinical immersion at Thika Level 5 Hospital in Kenya during the fourth week, where all eight fellows collaborated to analyze healthcare delivery patterns and identify critical unmet needs. This strategic convergence allowed for cross-cultural exchange of perspectives and strengthened the collaborative bonds essential for innovative solution development.

The immersive experience at Thika Level 5 Hospital, a key healthcare institution serving central Kenya, provided fellows with direct exposure to real-world clinical environments and the complex challenges facing healthcare providers in resource-constrained settings.