title: Expanding clinical medical training opportunities at the University of Nairobi: adapting a regional medical education model from the WWAMI program at the University of Washington.
abstract: A major medical education need in Sub-Saharan Africa includes expanding clinical training opportunities to develop health professionals. Medical education expansion is a complicated process that requires significant investment of financial and human resources, but it can also provide opportunities for innovative approaches and partnerships. In 2010, the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief launched the Medical Education Partnership Initiative to invest in medical education and health system strengthening in Africa. Building on a 30-year collaborative clinical and research training partnership, the University of Nairobi in Kenya developed a pilot regional medical education program modeled on the WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho) medical education program at the University of Washington in the United States. The University of Nairobi adapted key elements of the WWAMI model to expand clinical training opportunities without requiring major capital construction of new buildings or campuses. The pilot program provides short-term clinical training opportunities for undergraduate students and recruits and trains clinical faculty at 14 decentralized training sites. The adaptation of a model from the Northwestern United States to address medical education needs in Kenya is a successful transfer of knowledge and practices that can be scaled up and replicated across Sub-Saharan Africa.
authors: Ms. Child is clinical instructor of global health, University of Washington School of Public Health, and deputy director, Health Alliance International, Seattle, Washington. Dr. Kiarie is associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya, and affiliate associate professor of global health and epidemiology, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington. Dr. Allen is clinical professor of family medicine and vice dean for regional affairs, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington. Dr. Nduati is professor of pediatrics and child health, University of Nairobi College of Health Sciences, Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Wasserheit is professor of global health and medicine, adjunct professor of epidemiology, and vice chair of global health, University of Washington Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Seattle, Washington. Dr. Kibore is program coordinator for PRIME-K, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington. Dr. John-Stewart is professor of global health, medicine, epidemiology, and pediatrics, University of Washington Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Seattle, Washington. Mr. Njiri is program monitoring and evaluation manager for PRIME-K, University of Nairobi College of Health Sciences, Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. O'Malley is associate professor of global health, and director of implementation science, I-TECH, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington. Mr. Kinuthia is training coordinator for PRIME-K, University of Nairobi College of Health Sciences, Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Norris is professor and chair of family medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington. Dr. Farquhar is professor of medicine and global health and adjunct professor of epidemiology, University of Washington Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Seattle, Washington.
authors: Mara J
authors: MJ
authors: Child
authors: James N
authors: JN
authors: Kiarie
authors: Suzanne M
authors: SM
authors: Allen
authors: Ruth
authors: R
authors: Nduati
authors: Judith N
authors: JN
authors: Wasserheit
authors: Minnie W
authors: MW
authors: Kibore
authors: Grace
authors: G
authors: John-Stewart
authors: Francis J
authors: FJ
authors: Njiri
authors: Gabrielle
authors: G
authors: O'Malley
authors: Raphael
authors: R
authors: Kinuthia
authors: Tom E
authors: TE
authors: Norris
authors: Carey
authors: C
authors: Farquhar
mesh_terms: D004501:Education, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D007630:Kenya; D007857:Leadership; D017145:Models, Educational; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States; D014861:Washington