|
Liberia
Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC)
PI: Troy Moon
Other team members: Marie Martin, Bonnie Miller, Amy Chomsky, Sapna Gangaputra, Jessica Howard
Project Duration: June 1, 2018 - June 30, 2022
Focus Areas: Clinical Research Training, Curriculum Development, Faculty Development Program, Ophthalmology
Final Summary of Project Activities
The Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC)-led component of PEER/Liberia aimed to promote institutional and administrative capacity building to strengthen the A.M. Dogliotti School of Medicine (AMD) and Liberian College of Physicians and Surgeons (LCPS) to become accredited, sustainable, and robust local institutions. Following are the key results and impacts achieved on main objectives of the project:
Objective 1: Strengthen Medical Training and Build Subspecialty Medical Capacity in Liberia
- 49 faculty members and teaching apprentices participated in the Faculty Development Program, enhancing teaching skills.
- AMD's medical school curriculum was reformed, resulting in a new seven-year, integrated, and competency-based curriculum launched in 2021.
- The Faculty Mentorship Training Program was implemented to strengthen faculty mentorship in Liberia.
- The Residents as Teachers and Leaders (RATL™) Program was introduced to improve clinical teaching skills.
- Camp xSEL, a science camp for high school students, was launched to support the science education pipeline in Liberia.
- Ophthalmology subspecialty development in Liberia was supported, with training, remote mentorship, and access to online resources.
Objective 2: Improve Ability of Liberia to Conduct Research
- A four-part research capacity building workshop series was held for clinical residents, faculty, and medical students, covering research methodologies and ethics.
- Research projects on various health topics were developed, including pediatric influenza and RSV surveillance, cryptococcal meningitis, and family planning in Liberia.
- A COVID Webinar was conducted for clinical faculty, residents, and medical students to address research during the pandemic.
- A needs assessment of IRB functioning was conducted, and educational workshops on research ethics were organized for different IRBs in Monrovia.
- Collaboration with USAID's BRIDGE-U funding mechanism resulted in projects building on expertise and collaborations fostered through PEER Liberia.
In summary, the overall project expanded medical training capacity in Liberia through curriculum reforms, faculty development, and mentorship programs. Research capacity in Liberia was strengthened, with increased knowledge and skills in research methodologies and ethics. Collaborations and networks among Liberian institutions and U.S. academic partners were fostered, enhancing coordination and knowledge sharing, and sustainable developments were achieved in medical training and research institutions in Liberia, setting the foundation for continued growth and progress. Vanderbilt University and its partners actively contributed to the growth of medical education and research in Liberia, with a focus on building local capacity and fostering collaborations that will continue to benefit the country's healthcare and research landscape in the future, and the Vanderbilt team continues as an active partner in USAID's BRIDGE-U program.
Back to PEER Liberia Grant Recipients
|
|
|
|
