title: The African Pediatric Fellowship Program: Training in Africa for Africans.
abstract: Africa has a significant burden of childhood disease, with relatively few skilled health care professionals. The African Paediatric Fellowship Programme was developed by the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health at the University of Cape Town to provide relevant training for African child health professionals, by Africans, within Africa. Trainees identified by partner academic institutions spend 6 months to 2 years training in the Department of Pediatrics and allied disciplines. They then return to their home institution to build practice, training, research, and advocacy. From 2008 to 2015, 73 physicians have completed or are completing training in general pediatrics or a pediatric subspecialty. At 1 year posttraining, 98% to 100% are practicing back in their home institution. The impact of the returning fellows is evident from their practice interventions, research collaborations, and positions as stakeholders who can change health care policies. Thirty-three centers in 13 African countries are partners with the program, and the program template is now followed by other partner sites in Africa. Increasing and retaining the skills pool of African child health specialists is building a network of motivated, highly skilled clinicians who are equipped to advance child health in Africa.
authors.affiliation: African Paediatric Fellowship Program, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa; jo.wilmshurst@uct.ac.za.
authors.forename: Jo M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wilmshurst
authors.affiliation: African Paediatric Fellowship Program, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa;
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Morrow
authors.affiliation: African Paediatric Fellowship Program, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa;
authors.forename: Avril
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: du Preez
authors.affiliation: Nairobi Hospital and School of Public Health, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya;
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Githanga
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Children's Hospital, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi; and.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.affiliation: African Paediatric Fellowship Program, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Childrens Hospital and MRC unit on Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Heather J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Zar
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005544:Forecasting; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*