1. Training pediatric hematologist/oncologists for capacity building in Ethiopia.
- Author
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Hailu D, Fufu Hordofa D, Adam Endalew H, Karimi Mutua D, Bekele W, Bonilla M, Çeliker MY, Challinor J, Dotan A, Habashy C, Kumar PN, Rodriguez-Galindo C, Wali RM, Weitzman S, Broas J, Korones DN, Alexander TB, and Shad AT
- Subjects
- Child, Ethiopia epidemiology, Humans, Neoplasms epidemiology, Education, Medical, Graduate standards, Fellowships and Scholarships standards, Hematology education, Medical Oncology education, Neoplasms therapy, Pediatrics education, Physicians statistics & numerical data
- Abstract
Purpose: A considerable barrier to global pediatric oncology efforts has been the scarcity and even absence of trained professionals in many low- and middle-income countries, where the majority of children with cancer reside. In 2013, no dedicated pediatric hematology-oncology (PHO) programs existed in Ethiopia despite the estimated annual incidence of 6000-12000 cases. The Aslan Project initiative was established to fill this gap in order to improve pediatric cancer care in Ethiopia. A major objective was to increase subspecialty PHO-trained physicians who were committed to practicing locally and empowered to lead programmatic development., Methods: We designed and implemented a PHO training curriculum to provide a robust educational and clinical experience within the existing resource-constrained environment in Ethiopia. Education relied on visiting PHO faculty, a training attachment abroad, and extraordinary initiative from trainees., Results: Four physicians have completed comprehensive PHO subspecialty training based primarily in Ethiopia, and all have remained local. Former fellows are now leading two PHO centers in Ethiopia with a combined capacity of 64 inpatient beds and over 800 new diagnoses per year; an additional former fellow is developing a pediatric cancer program in Nairobi, Kenya. Two fellows currently are in training. Program leadership, teaching, and advocacy are being transitioned to these physicians., Conclusions: Despite myriad challenges, a subspecialty PHO training program was successfully implemented in a low-income country. PHO training in Ethiopia is approaching sustainability through human resource development, and is accelerating the growth of dedicated PHO services where none existed 7 years ago., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)
- Published
- 2020
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