Kenyan makes history with Masters degree in Nuclear Medicine (only four people have it)
A 34 year-old Kenyan has made history after graduated with a master’s degree in Nuclear Medicine making him one in only four people who have acquired the degree.
John Gitau Wairimu, who is based in Birmingham, Alabama, and three other Americans become the first four students in the whole of United States to earn master’s degrees in Nuclear Medicine Technology.
The four students are graduating from the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB).
This is the first Nuclear Medicine program to rise to master’s entry level in the whole of United States and the only Nuclear Medicine Technology program in the state of Alabama.
TREAT DISEASES
Nuclear Medicine Technology, which began in the 1950s, is a branch of medicine that involves use of radioactive drugs known as radioisotopes or radionuclides to diagnose, stage and treat diseases.
This technology is mostly used in diagnosing and staging cancer, detecting heart defects and brain infarction but it is also used in all the other organ systems.
Mr Wairimu also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health with a concentration in epidemiology from the same University.
He has been involved in various research projects involving environmental pollution in Birmingham area and hopes to pursue his PhD in Healthcare management in the fall of 2018.
HEALTH DISPARITIES
He hopes to conduct his research in ways to balance health disparities in Sub-Saharan Africa and other developing world.
“I feel privileged to have pursued my studies in this great world known university hospital,” said Wairimu.
He added that he was privileged to have rubbed shoulder with some of the greatest scientists and physicians in the world at the UAB, and having learnt from them.
“I feel ready and confident enough to go out there in the World and have an impact in someone’s life.”