School of Medicine and Health Sciences Poster Presentations
The Development of an Emergency Medicine Residency in Kigali, Rwanda
Document Type
Poster
Abstract Category
Global Health
Keywords
Emergency Medicine, Residency, Rwanda
Publication Date
Spring 5-1-2019
Abstract
Objective:   Emergency medicine is quickly becoming its own discipline in various low and middle income countries, including Rwanda. The Human Resources for Health (HRH) initiative was launched in 2012 to address the country's lack of trained emergency physicians. Through this initiative, the Rwandan Ministry of Health partnered with a group of U.S. universities for support and education. Faculty from U.S. medical, health management, and dentistry schools traveled to Rwanda to assist in hospitals, and in various medical / nursing schools. The HRH program aims to develop Rwandan medical specialists to address the issues of health worker shortages, poor quality of education, and management of health facilities. One program under the HRH initiative is the Master of Medicine in Emergency Medicine (MMed) at University Central Hospital of Kigali (CHUK). This paper provides a description of the history, development, and current state of emergency medicine in Rwanda, with specific focus on Rwanda's first emergency medicine residency program at CHUK. Methodology: A literature review was conducted using PubMed. Data and descriptions regarding emergency care specifically at CHUK were gathered from relevant websites and peer reviewed articles. Information on CHUK was also obtained directly from hospital personnel during the authors time at CHUK. Results: As of January 2019, CHUK has graduated 6 emergency medicine residents. The program currently has 8 fourth years, 6 third years, 4 second years, and 1 first year. Graduated residents now hold positions at Rwandan hospitals including: King Faisal Hospital, Rwanda Military Hospital, and Butaro. Additionally, 3 graduates stayed at CHUK, furthering the development of the hospital. At CHUK, these 3 hold positions in the areas of: 1) research, 2) clinical duties, and 3) academics. It has also been observed that emergency medicine training has been associated with significant reductions in mortality in patients presenting to CHUK. Conclusion: CHUK is well on its way to becoming a sustainable emergency medicine residency. The program currently has 19 residents in training and has graduated 6 students; these 6 are the first emergency medicine physicians in the country. Of these 6 graduated residents, 3 are continuing work at CHUK — which is promising for the future of the program. Furthermore, the decrease in mortality demonstrates the importance of emergency medicine training in a resource-limited setting such as Rwanda.
Open Access
1
The Development of an Emergency Medicine Residency in Kigali, Rwanda
Objective:   Emergency medicine is quickly becoming its own discipline in various low and middle income countries, including Rwanda. The Human Resources for Health (HRH) initiative was launched in 2012 to address the country's lack of trained emergency physicians. Through this initiative, the Rwandan Ministry of Health partnered with a group of U.S. universities for support and education. Faculty from U.S. medical, health management, and dentistry schools traveled to Rwanda to assist in hospitals, and in various medical / nursing schools. The HRH program aims to develop Rwandan medical specialists to address the issues of health worker shortages, poor quality of education, and management of health facilities. One program under the HRH initiative is the Master of Medicine in Emergency Medicine (MMed) at University Central Hospital of Kigali (CHUK). This paper provides a description of the history, development, and current state of emergency medicine in Rwanda, with specific focus on Rwanda's first emergency medicine residency program at CHUK. Methodology: A literature review was conducted using PubMed. Data and descriptions regarding emergency care specifically at CHUK were gathered from relevant websites and peer reviewed articles. Information on CHUK was also obtained directly from hospital personnel during the authors time at CHUK. Results: As of January 2019, CHUK has graduated 6 emergency medicine residents. The program currently has 8 fourth years, 6 third years, 4 second years, and 1 first year. Graduated residents now hold positions at Rwandan hospitals including: King Faisal Hospital, Rwanda Military Hospital, and Butaro. Additionally, 3 graduates stayed at CHUK, furthering the development of the hospital. At CHUK, these 3 hold positions in the areas of: 1) research, 2) clinical duties, and 3) academics. It has also been observed that emergency medicine training has been associated with significant reductions in mortality in patients presenting to CHUK. Conclusion: CHUK is well on its way to becoming a sustainable emergency medicine residency. The program currently has 19 residents in training and has graduated 6 students; these 6 are the first emergency medicine physicians in the country. Of these 6 graduated residents, 3 are continuing work at CHUK — which is promising for the future of the program. Furthermore, the decrease in mortality demonstrates the importance of emergency medicine training in a resource-limited setting such as Rwanda.
Comments
Presented at Research Days 2019.