A quarter of a century ago, The Hospital by the River introduced readers to an Australian doctor whose quiet determination would transform thousands of lives in Ethiopia.
As the book celebrates its 25th anniversary, Dr Catherine Hamlin's legacy continues to inspire travellers to walk in her footsteps.
For those seeking to experience that story firsthand, the Hamlin Ethiopian Adventure offers a chance to visit the iconic Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, meet patients and staff, and immerse yourself in the rich culture and landscapes of Ethiopia, the place Catherine called home for over 60 years.
Places are now open for trips in March 2026, and November 2026.
While you plan your journey, these books offer moving insights into Dr Catherine Hamlin’s daily life and the history behind the now iconic “Hospital by the River”.
The Hospital by the River
First published in 2001 and still in print, The Hospital by the River by John Little tells the story of Dr Catherine Hamlin and her husband, Dr Reg Hamlin. It follows their arrival in Ethiopia in 1959, the founding of a small maternity unit that grew into a world-renowned network of six fistula hospitals, Desta Mender (Joy Village), Hamlin’s Rehabilitation and Reintegration centre, and the Hamlin College of Midwives.
Set against Ethiopia’s dramatic landscape, this biography weaves Catherine’s personal life with the history of a medical program that has restored dignity to more than 70,000 women. The latest edition – published by Pan Macmillan and featuring a foreword by Dame Quentin Bryce – remains a favourite on Goodreads and Amazon.
Healing Lives
Authored by journalist Sue Williams, Healing Lives reveals the extraordinary friendship between Catherine Hamlin and Mamitu Gashe, once a teenage fistula patient who became one of the world’s leading fistula surgeons.
Published by Pan Macmillan, this moving account shows how mentorship, skill and compassion can transform not just one life, but tens of thousands.
Visit the places Catherine called home
Ready to see the Hospital by the River for yourself? Join the Hamlin Ethiopian Adventure and witness the places where Dr Catherine Hamlin’s vision became reality. Learn more and reserve your place today.
