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Health Professions Education Conference – 2023 Held

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The Health Professions Education Conference – 2023 themed, ‘Health Professions Education for Improved Health Outcomes’ was held on the 11th to 12th May 2023 with calls from stakeholders for competency-based education, quality assurance in training institutions, partnerships and enhanced supervision. The conference was organised by Health Professional Education Partnership Initiative (HEPI-SHSSU) and the East African Health Professionals Educators Association (EAHPEA).

HEPI-SHSSU is an NIH funded project hosted by Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS) working in partnership with Busitema University, Kabale University, Clarke International University, Mulago School of Nursing and Midwifery, Yale University, John Hopkins University and African Centre for Health and Social Transformation (ACHEST). The vision of the HEPI-SHSSU partnership is to transform Health Professions Education (HPE).

In her remarks, Professor Sarah Kiguli – Principal Investigator, HEPI-SHSSU welcomed participants to the conference. She expressed the privilege of the initiative in hosting the conference together with EAHPEA. ‘In this initiative, we believe, it is relevant to have all the HPE stakeholders working together to transform the sector which is key in creating strong health systems leading to improved health outcomes. This can only be achieved by engaging and working with all stakeholders present here’ she said.

The keynote address was read by Dr. Sanny Okuruafo, Technical Advisor – WHO Uganda Office who represented Dr. Yonas Tegegn Woldermariam – WHO Representative in Uganda. The address gave insights of why the health workforce is a key enabler for achieving the health-related sustainable development goals considering their role in ensuring health and well being of the population;  how Competency-based education is the foundation for training health workers to address the contemporary health needs of populations; and the discourse on competency – based education in recent years and how the Global Competency and Outcomes Framework for Universal Health Coverage was birthed in 2022. The keynote address underlined that:

  • Enhancement of health professions education lies in allowing a comprehensive and more cohesive approach to identifying the needed competencies that enable effective performance. This enables the health workforce to gain competencies that are on demand by the employers.
  • In enhancing health professions education in Uganda, the Framework offers an opportunity to ensure that competency-based curricula from competency-based outcomes are developed based on:
    • the essential service package,
    • legislation, policies, regulations, and guidelines guiding service delivery and health worker practice.
    • Occupational role and scope of practice for health worker category
    • Local epidemiology, mortality, and morbidity, and
    • Emergency risk assessments from All-hazards emergency risk assessments

The address concluded that the aforementioned proposals would ensure that ‘the health workers produced in Uganda will be trained using curricula that is rooted in the health and health system needs towards improved individual and population health, and efficient management and organization of the health sector of the country’.

Dr. Woldermariam implored health professional educators and health training institutions to embrace the WHO Global Competency and Outcomes Framework that will ensure that health workers produced in Uganda have the competencies and behaviors to meet Uganda’s health and population needs in the development and emergency contexts. ‘This will ultimately improve the health and well being of Ugandans, and ensure that Uganda achieves its National development and health sector goals’ he concluded.

Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor – Makerere University commended HEPI-SHSSU and MakCHS for convening HPE stakeholders to deliberate on this important issue.

Professor Nawangwe stressed that it is crucial that health training institutions come-up with appropriate innovative methods of training and education of current and future health professionals. He also reiterated the importance of retention of faculty through improvement of terms and conditions of service as well as support of career progress. The Vice Chancellor also called for an evaluation of the contribution of health workers to the economy of a nation and the effect if training institutions do not produce health professionals.

‘I wish to emphasise that HPE is important for national development and call on all training institutions to ensure that our curriculum as well as training matches international standards’, Professor Nawangwe advised.

Some of the issues arising from the plenary discussion included:

  • Large number of students in health training institutions is affecting clinical practice and the teacher to student ratio.
  • Institutions are moving towards student-centred learning where they are encouraged to research and make presentations
  • Soft skills and practicum are embedded in the curriculum
  • Mentors in health centres require payment from training institutions which is a challenge.
  • Competency-based training has been adopted by the training institutions
  • The attitude of students admitted has continued to improve.
  • While curricula have been reviewed, there remains gaps in the instruction/teaching
  • There are staffing gaps at health centres where students are sent for practicum thereby causing supervision gaps.
  • Inter-professional learning (for example training doctors and nurses together because they work together)

Increase number of faculty and refresher training whenever curricula are reviewed to keep abreast with new trends.

Health

Call For Applications: Masters Support in Self-management Intervention for Reducing Epilepsy Burden

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An aerial photo of the College of Health Sciences (CHS), Makerere University showing Left to Right: The Sir Albert Cook Memorial Library, School of Biomedical Sciences, Davies Lecture Theatre, School of Public Health, Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital (MSWNH)-Background Left and Nakasero Hill-Background Right, Kampala Uganda.

The Makerere University College of Health Sciences & Case Western Reserve University, partnering with Mbarara University of science and Technology are implementing a five-year project, “Self-management Intervention for Reducing Epilepsy Burden Among Adult Ugandans with Epilepsy”.

The program is funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). One aspect of the program is to provide advanced degree training to qualified candidates with an interest in pursuing clinical and research careers in Epilepsy. We are aiming at growing epilepsy research capacity including self-management approaches in SSA.

The Project is soliciting for applications for Masters Research thesis support focusing on epilepsy related research at Makerere University and Mbarara University, cohort 1, 2024/2025.

Selection criteria

  • Should be a Masters’ student of the following courses; MMED in Internal Medicine, Paediatrics, Surgery and Neurosurgery, Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Public Health, Master of Health Services Research, MSc. Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Nursing or Masters in the Basic Sciences (Physiology, Anatomy, Biochemistry or any other related field).
  • Should have completed at least one year of their Masters training in the courses listed above.
  • Demonstrated interest in Epilepsy and Neurological diseases, care and prevention and commitment to develop and maintain a productive career and devoted to Epilepsy, Clinical Practice and Prevention.

Research Programs

The following are the broad Epilepsy research priority areas (THEMES) and applicants are encouraged to develop research concepts in the areas of; Applicants are not limited to these themes; they can propose other areas.

  • The epidemiology of Epilepsy and associated risk factors.
  • Determining the factors affecting the quality of life, risk factors and outcomes (mortality, morbidity) for Epilepsy, epilepsy genetics, and preventive measures among adults.
  • Epilepsy in childhood and its associated factors, preventative measures etc.
  • Epilepsy epidemiology and other Epilepsy related topics.
  • Epilepsy interventions and rehabilitation

In addition to a formal masters’ program, trainees will receive training in bio-ethics, Good Clinical Practice, behavioral sciences research, data and statistical analysis and research management.

The review criteria for applicants will be as follows:

  • Relevance to program objectives
  • Quality of research and research project approach
  • Feasibility of study
  • Mentors and mentoring plan; in your mentoring plan, please include who are the mentors, what training they will provide and how often they propose to meet with the candidate.
  • Ethics and human subjects’ protection.

Application Process

Applicants should submit an application letter accompanied with detailed curriculum vitae, two recommendation letters from Professional referees or mentors and a 2-page concept or an approved full proposal describing your project and addressing Self-Management Intervention for Reducing Epilepsy Burden Among Adult or epilepsy related problem.

A soft copy should be submitted to the Administrator, Reducing Epilepsy Burden Project.  Email: smireb2@gmail.com; Closing date for the Receipt of applications is 1st July 2024.

For more information, inquiries and additional advice on developing concepts, please contact the following:

Makerere University College of Health Sciences

Prof. Mark Kaddumukasa:  kaddumark@yahoo.co.uk

Mbarara University

Ms. Josephine N Najjuma: najjumajosephine@yahoo.co.uk

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for Interviews.

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Health

Call For Applications: Masters Support in Brain Health

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Artistic illustration of Medical Science at the College of Health Sciences (CHS), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.

The Makerere University College of Health Sciences and Uganda Martyrs University (UMU), Research Training and mentorship to strengthen brain health program is a five-year project, funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the Fogarty International Center (FIC). The Major goal is to strengthen brain health research through multidisciplinary training and build a sustainable faculty and institutional capacity for research to improve brain health across the Lifespan in Uganda.

The Project is soliciting for applications for Master’s training support in Brain Health-related research at Makerere University/UMU, 5th Cohort, 2024/2025.

Selection criteria

  • Should be a Masters’ student of the following courses; MMED in Internal Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Surgery and Neurosurgery, Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Public Health, Master of Health Services Research, MSc. Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Nursing or Masters in the Basic Sciences (Physiology, Anatomy, Biochemistry or any other related field at Makerere University/UMU.
  • Should have completed at least one year of their Masters training in the courses listed above and ready to start their thesis development.
  • Proof of admission onto a master’s program at Makerere or UMU
  • Research work should be related to their selected research area in brain health
  • A letter of support from a mentor and another letter from the department committing to give the candidate protected time to study.
  • Demonstrated interest in Brain Health and Neurological diseases, care and prevention and commitment to develop and maintain a productive career and devoted to Brain Health, Clinical Practice and Prevention.

Research Programs

The following are the broad Brain Health Research priority areas (THEMES) and applicants are encouraged to develop research concepts in the areas of; Meningitis, encephalitis, traumatic brain injury, seizures/ epilepsy, neurodevelopmental disorders, ADHD, Autism, cerebral palsy, mental health disorders, stroke, dementias, Parkinson’s disease and nerve disorders plus “other brain-related topics”

In addition to a formal masters’ program, trainees will receive training in bio-ethics, Implementation science, behavioral sciences research, qualitative and quantitative research methodology, data analysis and research management.

The review criteria for applicants will be as follows:

  • Relevance to program objectives
  • Quality of research and research project approach
  • Feasibility of study
  • Mentors and mentoring plan; in your Mentoring plan, please include who are the proposed mentors, what training they will provide and how often they propose to meet with the candidate.
  • Ethics and human subjects’ protection.

Application Process

Applicants should submit an application letter accompanied with a detailed curriculum vitae, two recommendation letters from Professional referees or mentors and a 2-page concept or approved full proposal addressing a brain health or neurological disease related problem.

A soft copy should be submitted to the Training Coordinator, Brain Health Project.

Email: brainhealthtraining@gmail.com.

Closing date for the Receipt of applications is 10th June 2024.

For more information, inquiries and additional advice on developing concepts, please contact the following:

Prof. Elly Katabira, katabira@infocom.co.ug;

Dr. Mark Kaddumukasa. kaddumark@yahoo.co.uk

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for Interviews

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Health

Call For Applications: Masters Support in Reducing Stroke Risk Factors

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The Dean’s Gardens with Davies Lecture Theatre (Right), College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Mulago Hill, Kampala Uganda on a bright sunny day. East Africa

The Makerere University College of Health Sciences and Case Western Reserve University, partnering with Mbarara University of Science and Technology are implementing a five-year project, “A targeted self-management Intervention for Reducing Stroke Risk Factors in High Risk Ugandans”.

The program is funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). One aspect of the program is to provide advanced degree training to qualified candidates with an interest in pursuing clinical and research careers in Stroke. Trainees will be expected to develop and maintain a productive career devoted to Stroke Research, Clinical Practice, and Prevention. We are aiming at growing Research Capacity in Stroke Risk Reduction and training the next generation of Stroke health in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Project is soliciting for applications for Masters Research thesis support in stroke-related research at Makerere University and Mbarara University, cohort 5, 2024/2025.

Selection criteria

  • Should be a Masters’ student of the following courses; MMED in Internal Medicine, Paediatrics, Surgery and Neurosurgery, Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Public Health, Master of Health Services Research, MSc. Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Nursing or Masters in the Basic Sciences (Physiology, Anatomy, Biochemistry or any other related field).
  • Should have completed at least one year of their Masters training in the courses listed above.
  • Demonstrated interest in Stroke and Neurological diseases, care and prevention and commitment to develop and maintain a productive career and devoted to Stroke, Clinical Practice and Prevention.

Research Programs

The following are the broad brain health research priority areas (THEMES) and applicants are encouraged to develop research concepts in the areas of; Applicants are not limited to these themes, they can propose other areas.

  • The epidemiology of Stroke and associated risk factors.
  • Stroke risk factors and outcomes (mortality, morbidity) for stroke, stroke genetics, and preventive measures in among adults.
  • Stroke in childhood and its associated factors, preventative measures etc.
  • Stroke epidemiology and other stroke related topics.
  • Stroke interventions and rehabilitation

In addition to a formal masters’ program, trainees will receive training in bio-ethics, Good Clinical Practice, behavioral sciences research, data and statistical analysis and research management.

The review criteria for applicants will be as follows:

  • Relevance to program objectives
  • Quality of research and research project approach
  • Feasibility of study
  • Mentors and mentoring plan; in your mentoring plan, please include who are the mentors, what training they will provide and how often they propose to meet with the candidate.
  • Ethics and human subjects’ protection.

Application Process

Applicants should submit an application letter accompanied with a detailed curriculum vitae, two recommendation letters from Professional referees or mentors and a 2-page concept or an approved full proposal describing your project and addressing Stroke Risk Factors or a stroke related problem.

A soft copy should be submitted to the Training Coordinator, Reducing Stroke Project.

Email: reducingstroke@gmail.com. The closing date for the Receipt of applications is 10th June 2024.

For more information, inquiries, and additional advice on developing concepts, please contact the following:

Makerere University College of Health Sciences

Prof. Elly Katabira: katabira@infocom.co.ug

Dr. Mark Kaddumukasa:  kaddumark@yahoo.co.uk

Mbarara University

Ms. Josephine N Najjuma: najjumajosephine@yahoo.co.uk

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for Interviews.

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