A Warm Welcome to Norway

We were told 3 things before we came to Norway:

1. Stavanger is beautiful.
2. Laerdal is wonderful.
3. They really spoil you.

I am happy to report that all 3 are true.

Sunday, after last minute flight changes and possible missed connections, we arrived in Stavanger with nothing missing except for Teja's overweight (read: 60 lb) bag. We were picked up from the airport by Jenny, a former CBID student who now works for Laerdal Global Health's implementation team, and who will be our main contact throughout the year. After dropping bags off at the hotel and grabbing a delicious lunch, we quickly learned what they meant by #3, as we headed off for a boat ride with Mr. Tore Laerdal, the Chairman of Laerdal Medical.

Safety first. 

We toured around the port of Stavanger and learned a bit about its history, and how the oil industry has shaped what it is today. We were excited by the view of the port from the boat, and had no idea that we would soon be getting an understanding of why so many flock to Norway each year - the beautiful fjords.

Pictures just can't do it justice!

We enjoyed lovely strawberries, pastries, and chocolates underneath the rocks while having a nice introduction to Laerdal Global Health. Everything was perfect, and it was a wonderful start to what we know will be a wonderful trip (okay, I know I use "wonderful" a lot but it really was great).

Even beautiful views can't overcome jet lag.

After the boat ride, we got to meet another member of the LGH team, Cansu, at dinner with Jenny. We ate more Thai food than we could possibly handle, and then went to travel around downtown. We came across a park made of old materials from offshore drilling parts. Naturally, we decided it would be a good idea to practice our modeling skills, thanks Cansu and Jenny!

Doing our best smize. Tyra would be proud.

Group photo.

Team DoBA let's goooo.

Monday morning, it was time for our first day with Laerdal. Haven't heard of them before? If you've ever taken a CPR course, there's about a 70% chance that you used one of their Resuci Anne manikins. They have long been a leader in simulation based training devices for emergency care, after the unlikely start as a toy company. Recently, the company has begun a sister non-profit called Laerdal Global Health, with the emphasis on "helping save lives" through innovative partnerships, training programs, and devices. Their products include devices such as MamaNatalie, a low cost birthing simulator that is unique in that it can be worn on a facilitator and generate possibilities for more realistic patient interaction. MamaNatalie is used in several countries around the world to train staff on the pressing need of post-partum hemorrhage, but is also well loved by many simulation centers in more developed hospitals, such as that of Johns Hopkins. They firmly believe in creating products that will help their partners have the greatest impact, and have chosen to focus on the field of maternal and child health in order to achieve their ambitious goals.

Basically, we're incredibly honored to have the opportunity to be working with this company!

The day was spent getting to know Laerdal - the company, their goals, the people, their products, the facilities, and more. Through this we were able to get a better understanding of their goals and expectations from our upcoming field visit, and to learn about what some of the most promising areas of focus are for us to make sure to observe. The field of "maternal health" is obviously incredibly broad, and so finding the biggest area for us to be able to make an impact through training will be crucial. But, we know we have the support of this knowledgable and experienced company to help us refine that and focus over the next few days to make sure we are on the right path.

It was a long day, but very informative, and helped to get all of us excited for the weeks ahead. But for now... we will take advantage of our time in Norway!

Tapas dinner on the roof. 

The unreal view.