In-country and community-based postgraduate family practice training for Micronesian physicians--the Palau AHEC: a collaborative effort.
The U.S. Institute of Medicine in its 1998 review of the health care systems among the U.S.-Associated Pacific Islands (USAPI) identified promotion of primary health care (PHC) and training of the regional health workforce including postgraduate training for physicians as priorities. With the support of the health leadership of the USAPI and the Republic of Palau, the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) of the University of Hawaii captured U.S. federal Area Health Education Center (AHEC) funds to implement a postgraduate program to train Family Practitioners - physician specialists in primary care for the region. The Palau AHEC has evolved into ajoint activity of JABSOM, the University of Auckland Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (UAFMHS), the School of Public Health & Primary Care--Fiji School of Medicine, and Palau Community College to provide Diploma-level training in Family Practice and Community Health for Micronesian physicians.
Bureau of Hospital & Clinical Services, Ministry of Health, Republic of Palau. gdever@palaunet.com
Greg
G
Dever
Sitaleki A
SA
Finau
Ross
R
McCormick
Stevenson
S
Kuartei
Kelley
K
Withy
Victor
V
Yano
Neal
N
Palafox
Masao
M
Ueda
Sandra
S
Pierantozzi
Eliuel
E
Pretrick
Victor
V
Ngaden
A Mark
AM
Durand
D001113:Area Health Education Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D007857:Leadership; D010139:Pacific Islands; D019029:Palau; D016730:Program Development