Abstract
Sub-Saharan Africa has an inadequate number of health professionals, leading to a reduced capacity to respond to health challenges, including HIV/AIDS. From 2010 to 2015, the Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI)-sponsored by the U.S. Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-was enthusiastically taken up by the University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences (UZCHS) and 12 other sub-Saharan African universities to develop models of training to improve medical education and research capacity. In this article, we describe the outcomes and challenges of MEPI in Zimbabwe. UZCHS in partnership with the University of Colorado, Denver; Stanford University; University of Cape Town; University College London; and King's College London designed the Novel Education Clinical Trainees and Researchers (NECTAR) program and 2 linked awards addressing cardiovascular disease and mental health to pursue MEPI objectives. A range of medical education and research capacity-focused programs were implemented, including faculty development, research support, mentored scholars, visiting professors, community-based education, information and technology support, cross-cutting curricula, and collaboration with partner universities and the ministries of health and education. We analyzed quantitative and qualitative data from several data sources, including annual surveys of faculty, students, and other stakeholders; workshop exit surveys; and key informant interviews with NECTAR administrators and leaders and the UZCHS dean. Improved Internet connectivity and electronic resource availability were early successes of NECTAR. Over the 5-year period, 69% (115 of 166) of faculty members attended at least 1 of 15 faculty development workshops. Forty-one faculty members underwent 1-year advanced faculty development training in medical education and leadership. Thirty-three mentored research scholars were trained under NECTAR, and 52 and 12 in cardiovascular and mental health programs, respectively. Twelve MEPI scholars had joined faculty by 2015. Full-time faculty grew by 36% (122 to 166), annual postgraduate and medical student enrollment increased by 61% (75 to 121) and 71% (123 to 210), respectively. To institutionalize and sustain MEPI innovations, the Research Support Center and the Department of Health Professions Education were established at UZCHS. MEPI has synergistically revitalized medical education, research capacity, and leadership at UZCHS. Investments in creating a new research center, health professions education department, and, programs have laid the foundation to help sustain faculty development and research capacity in the country.
Highlights
The ongoing shortage of health workers in subSaharan Africa severely undermines the ability of countries to treat diseases and deliver essential healthOutcomes and Challenges With Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) in Zimbabwe www.ghspjournal.org services
To institutionalize and sustain MEPI innovations, the Research Support Center and the Department of Health Professions Education were established at University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences (UZCHS)
The evaluation was guided by 3 questions: (1) How can the number of medical students completing training at UZCHS increase? (2) How prepared are graduates to remain in Zimbabwe to practice, conduct research, and teach future generations of doctors? (3) How can researchers strengthen their capacity to address the priority health care needs of the region? These questions align with the 3 MEPI thematic areas to improve medical education capacity, promote the retention of health professionals, and conduct regionally relevant research
Summary
Outcomes and Challenges With MEPI in Zimbabwe www.ghspjournal.org services. This health workforce crisis contributes to poor health outcomes, which are further compounded by the burden of HIV/AIDS.[1] One solution to addressing this crisis is to strengthen medical education and increase capacity in research and clinical training to retain qualified medical professionals. Despite an increase in the number of doctors trained, there is still a severe shortage of medical practitioners in Africa, largely because of a "brain drain"—the flight of skilled medical professionals to other countries.[3]. Sub-Saharan Africa has an inadequate number of health professionals, leading to a reduced capacity to respond to health challenges, including HIV/AIDS. We describe the outcomes and challenges of MEPI in Zimbabwe
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