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 The goal of the University of Washington Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Women's Health International Program (WHIP) is to improve women's health worldwide by providing health education for women, training for their health care providers, and by conducting research on key questions in women’s health.
Resident Global Health Experience | Ob/Gyn Faculty Working Internationally | Immigrant Health | Links & Resources
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Resident Global Health Experience
Since 2003, over half of our residents have traveled to other countries for elective rotations. Residents are matched with a faculty mentor who oversees preparation for the rotation, including targeted reading in key areas of infectious disease, obstetric emergencies and neonatal evaluation. In-country supervisors ensure that the resident experience meets ACGME educational objectives. The global health elective is four weeks long. University of Washington Ob/Gyn resident interest in Global Health is strong and their experiences have been consistently rewarding.
Downloadable ACGME poster presentation (PDF format): A Survey of Obstetric and Gynecology Resident Experience and Interest in Global Health. Courtesy Anna Shope, MD
Elective sites: Lima, Peru, and Nairobi, Kenya
Lima, Peru
With about 29 million inhabitants, Peru is the fourth most populous country in South America as of 2007. Lima is the capital and largest city, located on the coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Metropolitan Lima has a population of almost 9 million people, roughly one third of the country's population. It covers an immense 390 square mile area running north-south along the Pacific for more than 31 miles, and extends nearly 25 miles from east to west.
There are two hospitals where residents go during their four week rotation in Lima. Residents have some flexibility in how much time is spent at either place, as long as their learning objectives for the rotation are met.
 "La Maternidad", the National Institute for Maternal and Perinatal Care in Lima, Peru, was established 182 years ago and has the highest designation awarded by the Health Ministry. They have eight ventilators for over 17,000 deliveries/year.
Hospital San Juan De Lurigancho, one of the smaller hospitals on the outskirts of Lima, is located in the District of San Juan de Lurigancho, which is one of the districts of Lima, Peru, and the most populous with over 1 million inhibitants. It was founded on February 22,1976, initially in the capacity of a local health clinic. In 2005, it was upgraded to a level II-1 hospital. This designation indicates that the hospital is able to provide services in four major areas: Internal Medicine (outpatient and inpatient), Gynecology and Obstetrics, Surgical Services, and Pediatrics. Total capacity is 75 beds, and they are the main hospital for a population of approximately one million. Their goal is to become a level II-2 hospital, which involves expanding current services they provide.
A Day in the Life: A 24-hour call shift at Hospital San Juan De Lurigancho, Lima, Peru
Nairobi, Kenya
A new rotation at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi is under development for the 2009-2010 academic year. Three alumni of the residency program did elective rotations at Kenyatta in years past, primarily working on a variety of research projects focusing on HIV-1 infection in women. The new rotation will be clinically focused, similar to the elective based in Lima, Peru, but will also provide exposure to the large community of infectious disease researchers based in Nairobi.
Kenyatta National Hospital is the University of Nairobi teaching hospital and is the largest hospital in Kenya. In Kenya, maternal mortality has been reported to be as high as 1000 per 100,000 live births, and breast and cervical cancer are the leading causes of cancer death in women. Kenyatta provides comprehensive obstetric and gynecologic care for referral patients from all over Kenya, and provides a rich clinical learning opportunity.
Ob/Gyn International Elective Learning Objectives:
- Demonstrate knowledge of diseases and of social, environmental, political and economic conditions impacting the health of women at study site.
- Apply this knowledge to patient care.
- Discuss the global indicators of health and geographic distribution of diseases affecting women/children at the study site
- Discuss the burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases that affect the population of the study site.
- Describe the impact of maternal health on child health.
- Demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills which transcend cultural, economic, religious and national barriers and result in effective exchange of information.
- Differentiate translatable versus non-translatable models among western, traditional, and international health delivery systems.
- Maintain and promote attitude and behavior which recognizes the dignity of every human being and respect of other cultures.
- Demonstrate knowledge of health care delivery systems in other countries, the role of international agencies, and interactions between them.
Upon return, residents complete an exam and provide structured reflections regarding their experience.
Ob/Gyn International Elective Reading List
Resident Global Health Experience | Ob/Gyn Faculty Working Internationally | Immigrant Health | Links & Resources
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Ob/Gyn Faculty Working Internationally
Our faculty participate in research and policy initiatives in India, Peru, Kenya, and Ethiopia. In collaboration with the School of Public Health and the Department of Global Health, this involvement is growing rapidly.
Current faculty participation:
- Thomas R Easterling, MD: India, South Africa
- David A Eschenbach, MD: Kenya
- Barbara A Goff, MD: Senegal
- Michael Gravett, MD: Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth (GAPPS)
- Benjamin E Greer, MD: China
- Jane Hitti, MD, MPH: Kenya, Peru
- Caroline M Mitchell, MD, MPH: Ethiopia, Peru
- Anne-Marie Amies Oelschlager, MD: Ethiopia
- Sarah W Prager, MD, MAS: Zambia
Download the May 13, 2009 Ob/Gyn Grand Rounds:
Improving Women's Health Worldwide: How Can We Contribute?
(Powerpoint Show format, 19.5 Mb)
Resident Global Health Experience | Ob/Gyn Faculty Working Internationally | Immigrant Health | Links & Resources
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Immigrant Health
In Seattle, we are pleased to serve a diverse community of immigrants. Part of our Global Health mission is to improve the cultural competency of our physicians and residents to better meet the needs of these patients.
Resident Global Health Experience | Ob/Gyn Faculty Working Internationally | Immigrant Health | Links & Resources
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Global Medicine Links & Resources
Resident Global Health Experience | Ob/Gyn Faculty Working Internationally | Immigrant Health | Links & Resources
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