title: Reflections on the first twenty-five years of the University of Malawi College of Medicine.
abstract: September 2016 marks 25 years since the College of Medicine of the University of Malawi was established. In this article we reflect on its conception, birth, adolescence, and youth. The contributions of multiple stakeholders are celebrated while being mindful of the ongoing efforts to consolidate past and current gains. For instance, the College of Medicine was, until recently, the only medical school in the country, but a new private medical school has just been opened in Lilongwe. International partnerships and wide-ranging resource mobilisation from both internal and international funders has been the hallmark of the growth and expansion of the Malawi College of Medicine. Further, the expanding needs for specialists in several clinical and non-clinical areas among the health professions calls for responsive strategies to address this and other human resources needs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi; African Centre of Excellence in Public Health and Herbal Medicine (ACEPHEM), University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi.
authors.forename: Adamson S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Muula
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi.
authors.forename: Wakisa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mulwafu
authors.affiliation: College Library, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi.
authors.forename: Diston
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chiweza
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi; Loma Linda University School of Public Health, Loma Linda, California, USA.
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mataya
mesh_terms: D004501:Education, Medical / Q000266:history*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000266:history*