Prof. Edmund Delle, founder of Rabito Clinic, has recalled an unusual encounter from the early days of his medical practice when a man walked into his newly opened facility with about 10 sick rabbits, convinced he had found the right place to treat them.
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Prof. Edmund Delle, founder of Rabito Clinic, has recalled an unusual encounter from the early days of his medical practice when a man walked into his newly opened facility with about 10 sick rabbits, convinced he had found the right place to treat them.
The amusing mix-up stemmed from the clinic’s name. The man had apparently mistaken Rabito Clinic for a veterinary facility specialising in rabbits, only to discover that its founder was a dermatologist.
“My first patient were rabbits,” Prof. Delle recalled in an interview with broadcaster Kafui Dey.
According to the renowned dermatologist, the man arrived with the animals, hoping they would receive medical attention. Prof. Delle, however, had to explain that he treated skin conditions in humans, not animals.
“So he thought it was rabbits’ clinic,” he said.
Realizing the misunderstanding, Prof. Delle directed the man to seek help from a veterinary doctor.
“I said, go to a veterinary doctor. I’m for skin,” he recounted.
Although the rabbits were indeed sick, treating them was far beyond the scope of his medical practice.
A Name With A Story
The confusion also gave Prof. Delle an opportunity to explain the origins of the clinic’s name, which had nothing to do with rabbits.
He named the facility after his professor, Calogero Rabito, an Italian who influenced his professional journey.
“I said, ‘No, it’s Rabito. It’s after my professor Calogero Rabito,’” he explained.
From Rabbits To Human Patients
The rabbits were only the beginning. Prof. Delle went on to recount the patients who followed, each presenting a different challenge as he established his practice.
His second patient was a pregnant woman, a development that reflected the decision to expand the clinic’s services beyond dermatology.
Prof. Delle said a minister had advised him to incorporate general medical services, warning that a facility dedicated exclusively to skin conditions might struggle to attract enough patients.
The third patient presented with a swollen knee, leaving the young doctor uncertain about how best to proceed because orthopaedics was not his speciality.
Rather than risk managing the case without the necessary expertise, he sought guidance from a friend at the military hospital on how to handle the condition.
These early experiences highlight the realities of building a medical practice, where unexpected cases can test a doctor’s knowledge, adaptability and willingness to seek professional assistance.
