The University of Washington - University of Nairobi Global Health Pathway: The Child Health Education Program for Pediatric Residents

Objective

To develop and implement a global child health rotation designed to equip both U.S. and Kenyan pediatric residents with the knowledge, skills & experience to reduce health disparities among children.

The Global Health Pathway

The mission & curriculum of the global health pathway were developed collaboratively with partner institutions in Kenya, guided by an advisory council of trainees & faculty

For UW residents: Two 1-month domestic rotations in the PL2 year with focus on public health, social justice, program evaluation & ethics
Analogous block for UoN residents is under development in Kenya
In the PL3 year, UW & UoN residents are paired for a 2-month experiential learning program in rural western Kenya

The Kenya Block

Week 1: Nairobi

Preparation & Orientation
Kenyatta National Hospital
Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital
Mitumba Slum Clinic

Week 2-6: Field Work in Kisii

Kisii Provicinal Hospital (KPH)
Community Work
Presentation at KPH

Week 7-8: Wrap up in Nairobi

Presentation at UoN
Debrief

A Focus on the Community

The focus of the rotation is on the health needs of the community - The clinical management of hospitalized patients is intentionally limited.

Activities	Examples
Support Children and Families	Identify and track children who need community/family support for their illness
Effective Advocacy	Meet with political & NGO leaders, and traditional healers Collaborate with Ministry of Public Health & Sanitation Collaborate with KPH & Ministry of Medical Services
Education of communities & community health workers (CHWs)	Treatment of malnutrition Screening for malnutrition by CHWs & traditional healers Creating kitchen gardens to diversify & balance food sources
Plan & implement a community health assessment	Baseline assessment of malnutrition in the community Assessment of hospital HIV screening program Perceptions of malnutrition among families & CHWs

Outcomes

Establishment of a focus on community-based prevention & management of malnutrition as a longitudinal goal of the partnership
6 resident presentations accepted at international meetings
- Kenyan Paediatric Association
- Pediatric Academic Societies

Program Leaders

Maneesh Batra, MD, MPH, Suzinne Pak-Gorstein, MD, MPH, PhD, Judd L. Walson, MD, MPH, University of Washington, Dalton Wamalwa, University of Nairobi, Jaqueline Naulikha, KRCHN, KEMRI-University of Washington, Heather A. McPhillips, MD, MPH, Brian D. Johnston, MD, MPH, Richard P. Shugerman, MD, University of Washington, Seattle, WA