Ubuntu Stories
Isaac Ntoruru – Kenya
After completing my studies in Medical Imaging, I faced a challenge familiar to many of my peers. While I had worked hard to build a strong theoretical foundation, my access to actual MRI machines was limited. I held a degree and a deep passion for the field, but I craved the hands-on practice that would turn my knowledge into true expertise. I was ready to learn, but I needed a guide and a door to walk through.
That guide was Patrick Githinji, a colleague and a fellow Future Leaders Fellow. Patrick, an experienced and brilliant MRI technologist, saw my potential and understood my challenge. Without a second thought, he embraced the spirit of Ubuntu. He went to the management of the hospital where he worked and advocated for me. I was granted permission to come and practice for free.
But Patrick’s generosity did not end at opening the door. He walked through it with me, becoming my mentor and teacher. He dedicated his precious time to train me, moving from the fundamental principles I had only read about to the most advanced MRI techniques. Most remarkably, he trained me in the field of cardiac MRI. This is a big thing for me because the discipline is practiced in only three facilities in our entire country.
Under Patrick’s patient and expert guidance, the pages of my textbooks came to life. The sequences, the protocols, the subtle nuances of patient care—it all transformed from abstract concepts into tangible skills. The gap between theory and practice was closed not by my effort alone, but by his selfless dedication.
Today, I stand as a confident and capable MRI technologist, armed with both a solid theoretical base and excellent clinical practice. This transformation is a testament to Patrick Githinji’s profound act of Ubuntu. He saw a colleague in need of an opportunity and did not hesitate to become my bridge.