Living a Dream – The Pursuit of Excellence | Frank A. Abaiweh

It is with great joy that I share this exciting milestone in my medical school journey. I am currently in Johannesburg, South Africa, attending the 2025 Africa Hepatopancreatobiliary Cancer Consortium (AHPBCC) Conference under full sponsorship as both a 2025 Pan-African Organization for Health Education and Research (POHER) Scholar and an AHPBCC Science Communication Fellow.

Earlier this year, I was honored to be selected as the Central African Representative for the highly competitive POHER Scholars Program, a research mentorship initiative for outstanding medical students across Africa.

The road here was not without its challenges. Navigating numerous hurdles to travel from Cameroon to South Africa was no easy feat, but on Tuesday, 12 August 2025, I finally landed in Johannesburg, determined and grateful.

Right now, I am truly living a dream. At the pre-conference session, I have had the rare opportunity to acquire foundational skills in laparoscopic and robotic surgery, including hands-on experience with the world-renowned Da Vinci Surgical Robot.

As a final-year medical student and Open Dreams Scholar from Cameroon, this experience is transforming my perspective. It strengthens my resolve to one day see these cutting-edge technologies accessible in Cameroon, so that patients at home can benefit from the very best

• Frank A. Abaiweh | Open Dreams