What You Need To Know
Dr. Ami Vaidya, Co-Chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology and Vice Chair, Dept. Obstetrics & Gynecology at HMH recently hiked to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The ambitious hike has been a bucket list challenge she’s been dreaming of since junior high.
After years of putting others first – including her husband and two daughters, her all-female gynecologic cancer surgery team at the John Theurer Cancer Center and countless patients – Dr. Vaidya decided it was time to do something for herself, challenging herself to climb the 19,341 feet of Africa’s tallest peak.
In an interview with newswise.com, Dr. Vaidya said “It took five days to go up. And the first couple of days it was refreshing to feel removed from my world and my existence. I felt well-trained and well-prepared. We had our oxygen levels checked daily and were constantly asked about how we were feeling in case of altitude sickness. I felt fantastic until about 15,000 feet.”
After suffering from oxygen deprivation, she kept fighting and relied on her hiking team, who gave her oxygen and additional layers after she began suffering from hypothermia.
Dr. Vaidya reached the top of the peak and returned to work at the John Theurer Cancer Center. Congratulations Dr. Vaidya on this achievement!
