Collaborator Spotlight-Linda Mary and Jenifer Atala
Linda Mary (left) and Jenifer (right) have worked on three projects together - ARF, ADD-RHD, and now, GOALIE.
Team Collaboration
Jenifer Atala and Linda Mary Oyella are an exceptional duo. Over the past five years, they’ve worked together as Research Nurses leading RRCU activities in Lira District. Jenifer and Linda Mary began working together on the ARF project, transitioned to ADD-RHD in 2020, and will soon be launching the GOALIE trial.
Often the only two RRCU staff members based in Lira, Jenifer and Linda Mary, have established a unique and collaborative relationship that enables them to balance their individual and shared responsibilities. The team says that daily communication and setting individual and shared goals allows them to be successful and to equitably divide their workload. Jenifer explains, “if one person has field work the other stays at the clinic, but at the end of the day they meet back up to share the data entry work as a team.” They note that regularly reviewing their goals helps them keep themselves accountable to themselves, one another, and RRCU leadership.
It helps that, in addition to their strong professional relationship, Linda Mary and Jenifer enjoy each other’s company. As Linda Mary puts it, “we enjoy the work we do and have become more like family!” Linda Mary and Jenifer believe that by supporting each other, communicating openly, and staying organized, they can work efficiently and enhance the RRCU’s work.
Linda Mary notes, “Jenifer is great at problem solving and a true team player. I really enjoy being able to work with her on ADD-RHD and look forward to working with her on GOALIE!” Jenifer says, “Linda Mary is really good at what she does and communicates effectively. I have enjoyed working with her these past five years!”
In the coming months, Jenifer, and Linda Mary’s team of two will grow immensely. They will be joined by over 20 additional RRCU employees, who will work with them on the GOALIE project. RRCU is pleased to see its work expanding in Lira and are grateful for Jenifer and Linda Mary’s leadership there.
Linda Mary
Research Nurse
Linda Mary is currently working on the ADD-RHD project in the Lira Regional Referral Hospital. She is directly involved in providing care to RHD patients and overseeing the use of a dynamic cloud-based platform to facilitate the uptake of secondary prevention.
Linda Mary started as a research nurse for the ARF study. After the successful completion of that study, Linda Mary transitioned to an injection nurse position with the RRCU, where she would give RHD patients’ their monthly prophylaxis shots. Linda Mary was then promoted to Research Nurse, and now takes on more coordination responsibilities for the ADD-RHD project.
Linda Mary began her career in research with an internship at the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI). Linda Mary said, “I have always had a passion for cardiovascular medicine and longed to work with UHI, so upon completion of my internship, I was excited that an opportunity arose to work on RHD research in collaboration with UHI”.
Linda Mary enjoys many aspects of working for the RRCU, she loves being able to serve patients in her community and make an impact in so many lives. She likes that the RRCU provides her with the opportunity to continue her education not only through online courses, but by meeting and working with experts in cardiology clinical and research fields.
Thank you, Linda Mary!
Jenifer Atala
Research Nurse
Jenifer has been working on RHD research projects in Lira District for over five years and is currently focused on the ADD-RHD project. For this project, Jenifer has been training health center nurses on the basics of RHD and best practices in benzathine penicillin injection administration. Jenifer also helps lead training efforts on the use of ADD-RHD’s cloud-based RHD platform, the ACT platform, which helps healthcare providers track patient injections, appointments, and adherence. Jenifer also trains health center nurses on echo image acquisition by utilizing an echo navigational system on the machines. With this simple form of echocardiography technology, the health center nurses are more able to identify and refer suspected RHD cases to Lira Regional Referral Hospital for confirmation and further care.
Jenifer previously worked as a Research Nurse/Community Engagement Nurse at the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) for their ARF program in Lira and Gulu, Uganda. As RRCU grew, and the partnership with UHI developed, Jenifer became more involved in the projects and the impact expanded to the Tororo and Mbarara districts.
Jenifer says, “I developed an interest in RHD research in 2015 after reading about studies being done and I found out about a study taking place in my community, Lira. I had an opportunity to get involved and it was a great chance for me to see what the situation was on the ground.” This study was a great learning experience, she was able to do cardiac echoes, diagnose RHD, and help save the lives of many children in her own community.
Jenifer loves being involved in the RRCU, she loves the team spirit, learning opportunities, and really enjoys taking an active role in the projects because of the positive and life-changing impact they have on her community.
Thank you, Jenifer!