The Doctor is In...From Zimbabwe

Dr. Madeline Chadehumbe once visited Grand Rapids in 2004. But she recently took a post at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital and moved to the city for good. The place, she says, is completely different from when she was here last.

“I remember it being a small town, and I was amazed at how much had changed,” Chadehumbe says. “You hear that Michigan isn’t doing well, and you don’t expect to see growth like we’ve seen here.”

“There’s still more to come,” she continues. “It’s great to see what is planned for the future of this city – there is tons of stuff happening everywhere.”

Grand Rapids’ budding medical sector is not just changing the landscape and attracting attention - it’s also attracting world-class physicians, and the DeVos Children’s Hospital is no exception.

Since the hospital announced plans for its new facility, scheduled to open at the corner of Michigan and Bostwick in 2011, 19 physicians have joined the team. But Dr. Chadehumbe traveled one of the greatest distances to do so. She started her medical education in Zimbabwe before reaching her current destination of Grand Rapids.

Chadehumbe joined the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in April as the fifth member of the pediatric neurology team. She specializes in diagnosing and treating children with brain, nerve and muscle problems. Chadehumbe is making a name for herself in the global medical community, too. The Journal of Child Neurology, a highly regarded medical publication, recently accepted and plans to publish one of her articles on seizures in children who have had strokes.

And as a physician with international training and experience, Chadehumbe has a lot to offer Grand Rapids.

Her worldwide path to Grand Rapids began when she was born in England to Zimbabwean parents. Her parents had left Zimbabwe to raise their child away from the political strife taking place in the country. After the country gained its independence in 1980, Chadehumbe’s parents moved their family back to their native land.

Growing up in England and Zimbabwe, Chadehumbe excelled as a student. She was also very active in volunteer work, primarily with AIDS awareness. Her achievements garnered Chadehumbe a full medical scholarship to the University of Zimbabwe, a European-styled school located in the capital city of Harare. While attending the university, Chadehumbe continued to remain active in AIDS awareness, serving as the program coordinator for the university’s AIDS awareness campaign.

After graduating from the University of Zimbabwe, Chadehumbe and her husband had to determine where life would take them next. Her husband applied to universities in the United Kingdom and the United States, and chose to attend Michigan State University. Chadehumbe also interviewed with MSU, and decided to complete her pediatric residency at MSU’s Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies.

Upon completing her pediatric residency in 2004, Chadehumbe took a child neurology residency position at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, one of the most prestigious children’s hospitals in the nation. After three years of training, Chadehumbe stayed on for another year before she was approached about coming to West Michigan to work at the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.

“My husband and I have friends in family in West Michigan, so it wasn’t a tough decision to come here,” Chadehumbe says. “And the lakes help, too… there isn’t much water in Cincinnati.”

So Chadehumbe, her husband and her two young children (aged six and one) moved to East Grand Rapids. Chadehumbe is excited about the potential and the opportunities in Grand Rapids.

“The Cincinnati Children’s Hospital was a bit bigger than Spectrum, but I can definitely see us getting to that size,” she says. “Because Cincinnati was more established, there weren’t a lot of changes going on there. In Grand Rapids, there is a lot to look forward to. That’s what drew me here. There’s a lot of room for growth.”

Chadehumbe believes the new MSU Medical School will help fuel that growth. “It will make the community stronger, more academic. Grand Rapids will be a force to be reckoned with,” says Chadehumbe. She believes it will help draw more attention to Grand Rapids, and help the city grow as a whole. “I think it is an excellent idea all around – it will help boost the local economy and bring more jobs to the area.”

Chadehumbe’s new job at the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital includes treating children who come in with seizures, muscle conditions such as muscular dystrophy, epilepsy, nerve damage, headaches and walking problems. Although she admits that it can be tough seeing children deal with degenerative diseases or traumatic accidents, she says that it is also highly rewarding when she can help put kids on the path to recovery.

“There is a lot of joy and successes," she says. "It’s great to watch these young patients get better; those who come in with seizures, headaches, muscle conditions. But, it's tough sometimes, too. Children who come in after near drowning, vehicle accidents, and other devastating circumstances... it can be hard when talking to parents and families, when you’re telling them what to expect.”

To unwind, Dr. Chadehumbe likes to spend time outdoors with her family. Her favorite activities include attending festivals, playing tennis, having picnics, going to Lake Michigan and playing soccer.

“Even my one-year-old plays soccer,” she says.

And although the Chadehumbe family is still exploring Grand Rapids, they already have found a few favorite spots, including Mangiamo, The Omelette Shoppe and Jersey Junction.

“The kids especially love Jersey Junction,” she says. “We’ll still wait for ice cream even if the line is around the block – it’s that good!”

“I’m glad to be back in Michigan. This will be our home for a very long time.”