Summary
In this blog, I share highlights from my incredible journey to Rice University as an international intern in the Rice360 Global Health Technologies Program. From the smooth travel experience and warm welcome in Houston to exploring the city, engaging in innovative engineering projects, and showcasing my final year project from MUHAS, this experience has been both transformative and inspiring. The post also includes visuals of key milestones from my travel boarding passes to our zoo visit, group lunch, and technical achievements. I'm deeply grateful to my sponsors and the Rice360 team for making this opportunity possible.
My Journey to Rice University: A Grateful Beginning to an Unforgettable Internship
My name is Edward Lowassa Ndonyo, a recent graduate from Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) in Tanzania, where I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering with First Class honors. In addition to my biomedical training, I also have practical experience in electrical installation, CCTV systems and lighting decoration and design. I’m also skilled in Microsoft Office, MATLAB, programming languages like C, C++, Python, JavaScript, as well as HTML, CSS, Django for web development and AutoCAD for electrical design.
📘 Visual overview of my final year project (click to expand Project summary)
Project Title: Management System for Prenatal, Postnatal and Pediatric Clinic
Project Overview:
This project, developed by Edward L. Ndonyo at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, presents a comprehensive web-based management system designed to digitize and streamline healthcare services for prenatal, postnatal, and pediatric clinics in Tanzania. The system addresses critical challenges in Tanzania’s manual healthcare system, where over 80% of maternal deaths are attributed to inadequate maternity care and preventable complications.
Problem Statement and Motivation:
Tanzania’s healthcare system currently relies on paper-based record keeping, which creates significant barriers to effective patient care. The manual system suffers from multiple limitations including data accessibility issues, increased vulnerability to errors, difficulty in tracking patient records, challenges in statistical analysis, and inability to implement automated reminders for appointments. With 2.6 million infant deaths annually worldwide (80% preventable) and 800 daily maternal deaths from preventable causes, the need for an efficient digital solution is critical.
System Architecture and Technical Implementation:
The system was developed using Django 4.2 as the backend framework, with HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript (ES6+) powering the frontend interface. The architecture implements a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) with carefully designed entity relationships including one-to-many and one-to-one connections between patients, visits, medical records, and healthcare providers.
- Database Design: Structured to efficiently manage, validate, and secure patient data with unique identifier generation for each child.
- User Interface: Intuitive web-based interface designed for healthcare providers with minimal technical training.
- SMS Integration: Infobip API integration for automated appointment reminders and notifications.
- Analytics Tools: Python-based data processing using Pandas and Matplotlib for visualization and reporting.
- Task Scheduling: Celery and Celery Beat for managing asynchronous tasks and appointment scheduling.
Core Functionality Includes:
- Patient Data Management: Digital profiles for mothers and children with accurate, validated record keeping.
- Appointment and Visit Tracking: Automated tracking and SMS reminders to improve clinic attendance.
- Automated Notification System: SMS for confirmations, reminders, and follow-ups.
- Growth and Development Monitoring: Visual growth charts and vaccination tracking.
- Data Analytics and Reporting: Dashboards, regional statistics, and PDF report generation.
- Birth Certificate Integration: Generates birth certificate application files with potential for RITA integration.
The images below showcase key aspects of the project, including the system’s workflow, child growth monitoring charts, patient follow-up interface, and a snapshot from the final year project presentation.
This summer, I was honored to be selected as one of the five international interns for the Rice360 Global Health Technologies Internship Program at Rice University in Houston, Texas. This opportunity has been a life-changing step in both my academic and professional journey, a chance to grow, learn, and contribute meaningfully alongside brilliant minds from around the world.
Getting Here: From Tanzania to Texas
Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and the coordination of the Rice360 team, my travel from Dar es Salaam to Houston was smooth and exciting. I departed on June 4, 2025, and after a brief connection in Amsterdam, I arrived in Houston on June 5. The following day, we were warmly welcomed with a wonderful group lunch alongside the other international interns, Michelle, and other team members. That same day, we toured the Rice campus to get familiar with the university, a beautiful and inspiring place that would become our new workspace.
Exploring Houston
On June 7, we had a chance to explore the city. We visited the Houston Zoo and Hermann Park, where we bonded as a group and enjoyed our first real weekend in this new environment. It was the perfect way to relax and prepare for the exciting work ahead.
The SEED Program Begins
The official kickoff of the internship program, SEED (Summer Experience in Engineering Design), took place on June 9. We were introduced to our wonderful supervisor, Dr. Kevin Holmes, and received an overview of the projects we’d be tackling over the summer. Representatives from our client organization joined us to present real-world problems in global health that required innovative solutions.
The next day, we were divided into teams, and I was assigned to a group working on two fascinating projects:
- Cable Management in iKMC (improved Kangaroo Mother Care) – focused on organizing and securing cables for medical devices in neonatal care settings.
- Giant Cheetos Machine – a creative engineering challenge to build a fun, interactive mechanism inspired by Cheetos snacks.
Design Thinking in Action
From June 11 to June 13, we dedicated our time to brainstorming, conducting deep research, and making direct observations to understand each project from all angles. We discussed feasibility, user needs, potential constraints, and worked toward identifying the most effective and impactful solutions. It was intense but fulfilling work, exactly what I hoped for from this internship.
💖 A Heartfelt Thank You to Mr. Kamal and Mrs. Eleanor Shah
None of this would be possible without the generous support of my sponsors, Mr. Kamal and Mrs. Eleanor Shah, who made this internship a reality for me. Your investment in global health and education is having a direct and meaningful impact. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute in such a world-class environment. Your support is not only helping shape my future, but also the lives of those I aim to serve through biomedical innovation