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Transforming medical education in Liberia through an international community of inquiry

Authors :
Kristina Talbert-Slagle
Ibrahim Ajami
Braden Currey
Rachel Galvao
Jerusalem Hadush
Serene Silin Li
Javaughn T. Flowers
Moses Ziah
Desmond Amuh
Mikaela Rabb
Olayinka Stephen Ilesanmi
Nikole Allen
Marie Martin
Mary Miller
Attila Yaman
Tej Nuthulaganti
Chelsea Plyler
Odell Kumeh
Joseph Sieka
Onyema Ogbuagu
Regan Marsh
Asghar Rastegar
Lawrence Sherman
Z’Sherman Adams
Angela Benson
Bernice Dahn
Source :
PLOS Global Public Health, Vol 3, Iss 3 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2023.

Abstract

A critical component of building capacity in Liberia’s physician workforce involves strengthening the country’s only medical school, A.M. Dogliotti School of Medicine. Beginning in 2015, senior health sector stakeholders in Liberia invited faculty and staff from U.S. academic institutions and non-governmental organizations to partner with them on improving undergraduate medical education in Liberia. Over the subsequent six years, the members of this partnership came together through an iterative, mutual-learning process and created what William Torbert et al describe as a “community of inquiry,” in which practitioners and researchers pair action and inquiry toward evidence-informed practice and organizational transformation. Incorporating faculty, practitioners, and students from Liberia and the U.S., the community of inquiry consistently focused on following the vision, goals, and priorities of leadership in Liberia, irrespective of funding source or institutional affiliation. The work of the community of inquiry has incorporated multiple mixed methods assessments, stakeholder discussions, strategic planning, and collaborative self-reflection, resulting in transformation of medical education in Liberia. We suggest that the community of inquiry approach reported here can serve as a model for others seeking to form sustainable global health partnerships focused on organizational transformation.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
27673375
Volume :
3
Issue :
3
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
PLOS Global Public Health
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.8b51963e9a64a20ae597cb4b28d22e1
Document Type :
article