Capacity Building in Pediatric Critical Care-Global Health Research and Education: The Blantyre Experience

Madiha Q. Raees, Division of Critical Care, Department of Critical Care and Anesthesia, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Yamikani Chimalizeni, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi.
Alice W. Liomba, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi.
Paul Pensulo, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi.
Montfort Benard Gushu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi.
Andrew Tebulo, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi.
Albert Malenga, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi.
Michael J. Sikorski, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Adrian J. Holloway, Division of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Adnan T. Bhutta, Division of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Allan Doctor, Division of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Kenneth E. Remy, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri.
Nicole F. O'Brien, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
Douglas G. Postels, Blantyre Malaria Project, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi.
Terrie E. Taylor, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

6-12-2023

Journal

The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene

DOI

10.4269/ajtmh.22-0445

Abstract

Pediatric critical care medicine (PCCM), as it is practiced in high-income countries, is focused on specialized medical care for the most vulnerable pediatric patient populations. However, best practices for provision of that care globally are lacking. Thus, PCCM research and education programming can potentially fill significant knowledge gaps by facilitating the development of evidence-based clinical guidelines that reduce child mortality on a global scale. Malaria remains a leading cause of pediatric mortality worldwide. The Blantyre Malaria Project (BMP) is a research and clinical care collaborative that has focused on reducing the public health burden of pediatric cerebral malaria in Malawi since 1986. In 2017, the requirements of a new research study led to the creation of PCCM services in Blantyre, creating the opportunity to establish a PCCM-Global Health Research Fellowship by BMP in collaboration with the University of Maryland School of Medicine. In this perspective piece, we reflect on the evolution of the PCCM-Global Health research fellowship. Although the specifics of this fellowship are out of the scope of this perspective, we discuss the context allowing for the development of this program and explore some early lessons learned to consider for future capacity-building efforts in the future of PCCM-Global Health research.

Department

Neurology

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