Educational Ambassador Program meets the Fellowship Program in Cape Town
In December 2017, the ISN Educational Ambassador Program supported a training in interventional nephrology at the University of Cape Town. Organized by Dr Erika Jones, it saw Dr William C. O’Neill from Emory University in Atlanta assigned as educational trainer for the session.
Among the 20 participants, three active ISN Fellows took part in the meeting, including Dr Bingileki Lwezaula from Tanzania, Dr Patricia Kassum from Ghana and Dr Chimota Phiri from Malawi.
Since 2010, the Department of Nephrology of the Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town in South Africa, an ISN Regional Training Center, has trained 15 African doctors in clinical nephrology, pediatric nephrology and renal transplantation.
After a 12-month hands-on training, these ISN Fellows return to their home countries with fresh knowledge and experience as well as the desire to further develop their local renal care programs and train their fellow doctors.
Dr Lwezaula and Dr Phiri are trainees at the University of Cape Town, mentored by Dr Ikechi Okpechi, Dr Kassum is at the Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, mentored by Dr Mogamat Razeen Davids.
The improvement of ultrasound ability, line insertion technique and biopsy technique were the three main achieved objectives of this training.
Dr Jones wrote on her post training report: “The Educational Ambassador Program program allowed expertise to be brought to South Africa.”
Thank you to ISN and to the commitment of the University of Cape Town, the knowledge of renal ultrasound practice will travel through other African countries and this will maybe encourage other institutions to do the same and be part of this fruitful chain of support and sharing.
Find out more about the ISN Educational Ambassador Program, HERE. More about the ISN Fellowship Program, HERE. The next deadline for applications to these two programs is May 1st, 2018.
