title: Health professions educators as agents of change in Tanzania: creativity to implement new curricula.
abstract: Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) strives to instill in its graduates skills and competencies appropriate to serving the Tanzanian population well. MUHAS leadership, working in collaboration with educators from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), selected and trained an interdisciplinary group of faculty members to promote effective teaching. We describe the development of this group of faculty change agents - now known as the Health Professions Educators Group (HPEG). The HPEG invigorated the education environment at MUHAS by: engaging many colleagues in special training events that introduced new methods for teaching and assessment; encouraging innovation; and developing strong mentoring relationships. HPEG members piloted courses in education to prepare all postgraduate students as peer educators, teaching assistants, and as candidates for faculty future appointments. Creation of a 'teaching commons' reinforces the new focus on innovative teaching as faculty members share experiences and gain recognition for their contributions to quality education.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. dmloka@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Doreen A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Mloka
authors.forename: Selma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Omer
authors.forename: Charles A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mkony
authors.forename: Rodrick R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Kisenge
authors.forename: Sarah B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Macfarlane
authors.forename: Patricia S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards*; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D005260:Female; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012577:Schools, Medical; D013636:Tanzania