We are now five days into our 2024 trip to Tanzania. It has been an amazing reunion among old friends, new friends and new adventures. Our scholarship conference on Sunday was an enormous success. It confirms the importance and power of educating young Tanzanians to improve healthcare in this part of the world. They are an inspiration in and of themselves-enthusiastic passionate, hungry for education and information and will carry this project and their country for into the future. This is capacity building at its finest. Monday was dedicated to Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center where Dr. Ezekiel Moirana had set up meetings and interactions with the staff. We met with leadership and took a tour of the facility. They are enthusiastic about collaboration with our future, medical and surgical teams, and it will be a fine venue serving the underserved of Tanzania. we traveled to Mbwa Africa, a nonprofit organization that is starting a veterinary clinic and rescue facility for abandoned animals in Arusha. Afte after a bumpy and exciting journey down a jungly road, we arrived at the facility and were greeted by its founder, Jens Fissenebert. Mbwa Africa is dedicated to spay and neuter programs and rabies vaccinations. They also provide housing for abandoned animals and are creating an adoption program that will help many dogs and cats and Tanzania. Our veterinary staff will be working with them on the next trip, helping to teach new students in veterinary medicine and participating in the development of our One health program. Tuesday was dedicated to meeting with leadership of both Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College (KCMC) and Kilimanjaro clinical research Institute (KCRI)We were privileged to have meetings with Dr. Herman Ayesago, surgical director of KCMC and Dr. Blandina Mmbago of KCRI. We discussed extensive clinical collaboration with Casey MC for our surgical and medical teams as we move forward with our projects. We also discussed the very exciting transition with more research projects, focusing on one health and incorporating veterinary medicine, human medicine, clinical research, microbiology and zoology. Yesterday, the team traveled to Manara region and visited the amazing new clinic that one of our scholars, Dr. rebeca gurti and her husband, Amani, have created in their village. To see the enthusiasm, passion and compassion of these young professional Tanzanians and their commitment to serving their community directly through much needed. Clinical care was truly inspirational, and the entire team was very moved by our afternoon traveling there we returned back to our beautiful lodge our resting and will continue our liaisons with other medical facilities and opportunities over the next two days before heading out to the Serengeti to scout out our one health project. This is a highly experienced and dedicated team comprised of previous trip members, board members and new team members who no doubt will help lead this important and deeply moving project into the future. While we are on the ground here in Tanzania, we can see directly the impact of our donors’ generosity and I assure them that their contributions to the Phil Simon clinic Tanzania Project are making an enormous difference in East Africa. Onward, we all go together.

Kim Shriner, Founder and President, Phil Simon Clinic Tanzania Project, Moshi, Tanzania