1321. The UNZA/UMB MMed ID Collaboration: Training and Retaining HIV Specialist Physicians in Zambia

Abstract

BackgroundTo mitigate the HIV pandemic and increasing outbreaks of infectious diseases, sub-Saharan African countries need increased healthcare worker capacity at all levels. We describe a successful collaboration between the Ministry of Health (MOH), the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), the University of Zambia (UNZA), and the University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB) to train Zambian physicians in advanced HIV medicine and infectious diseases.MethodsRecognizing the need for advanced HIV clinical care expertise in Zambia, UNZA, UTH and UMB partnered in 2008 to create a 1-year Postgraduate Diploma in HIV Medicine. The consortium extended this to an 18-month Master of Science in HIV Medicine to better align with existing professional advancement schema. In 2012, UNZA and UMB started a 4-year Master of Medicine in infectious diseases (MMedID), which was then expanded to a 5-year training program combining internal medicine and infectious disease (MMed IM/ID) in order to produce a cadre with wider expertise in internal medicine and infectious diseases. Instruction consists of bedside teaching, didactic lectures, case conferences, and journal clubs. The bulk of teaching came from UMB clinical faculty with expertise in HIV and ID; faculty are either based in Zambia or visit from the United States.ResultsThe MSc HIV program trained 27 physicians; of these, 24 (89%) are in health leadership positions in Zambia, with 17 (63%) directly involved in clinical care (mostly in the public sector), while 7 (15%) work for international implementing partners in Zambia. 1 physician emigrated to another African country, another one died and the third is in clinical nonleadership position in Zambia. The MMed ID program has enrolled 14 physicians. The first two graduates of the program completed the program in 2017 and took health leadership roles within the MOH as well as teaching positions at UNZA.ConclusionEducational collaborations embedded within local institutions and structures can provide advanced healthcare expertise within resource-limited settings. The UNZA/UMB MMed IM/ID collaboration is a model example of a successful university partnership that has resulted in retaining health leadership and clinical care expertise in Zambia.Disclosures L. Hachaambwa, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Cooperative Agreement to Institution, Financial support for the work described in this abstract was made possible by a cooperative agreement award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to the University of Zambia and to the University of Maryland School of Medicine.