PCOM Georgia graduate Donald Dickert, MD, MS/Biomed ’08, has spent the last six years as the only American physician in the Eastern State of Ethiopia. Leading various medical and development initiatives in one of the world’s most underserved areas, Dr. Dickert has navigated numerous cultural, logistical and personal challenges—many of which he hadn’t anticipated when he first embarked on his medical journey.
“I went from being an expert in medicine in America to being a baby in a new culture,” Dr. Dickert recalls, reflecting on his early days in Ethiopia. The region he serves is home to 17 million people, most of whom are Acacia, and come with vastly different languages, customs and religious practices. “The biggest challenge is learning from the community before you can help them. For the first three to five years, it was more about them teaching me than me helping them.”
This humility was something Dr. Dickert learned early in his career. While studying at PCOM Georgia, he was part of the first graduating class of Biomedical Sciences students.
“PCOM Georgia taught me what it’s like to be the first through the door,” he said, a lesson that proved to be helpful during his residency at the University of Tennessee where he became the first chief resident of the newly established International Medicine track.
Living in Ethiopia has come with personal challenges for Dr. Dickert, too. Along with his wife and three children, Dr. Dickert lives in a region where power outages are common, and they often rely on truck-delivered water. But despite these difficulties, Dr. Dickert remains committed to creating long-term, sustainable change. “We want Acacia solutions for Acacia problems,” he says, stressing the importance of cultural understanding in creating lasting impact.
For students interested in international medical work, Dr. Dickert offers this advice: “Don’t base your identity solely on your vocation. When you move to a different place, everything will look different, and you need to be flexible.” He encourages students to follow their passions and seek out mentors. “You’ll never be fully prepared. Just be ready to roll with the punches, keep learning, and hold your plans loosely.”
Though the work is demanding, Dr. Dickert finds it deeply rewarding. “It’s not always easy, but it’s fulfilling in ways I never imagined.”
