Universities in Transition to Improve Public Health: The MUHAS-UCSF Academic Learning Project (ALP) Charles A. Mkony Department of Surgery Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

Outline Introduction to MUHAS Evolution of the MUHAS-UCSF partnership Organization of the ALP ALP activities Outputs of the ALP Two years on -lessons learned from the ALP

MUHAS Public university of health sciences since 2007 In 2005: college of health sciences of UDSM Challenges – Pressure for more/better health professionals for Tz – Shortage of faculty – Curriculum review was overdue – Govt. drive: convert to competence based curriculum

Evolution of MUHAS-UCSF Partnership  2005: MUCHS MUHAS  UCSF was in the process of forming GHS  Dentistry, Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing  Public Health and SS Two institutes  2,283 diploma/degree  215 faculty  404 PG students  Graduate Division, Many institutes  2,940 degree students  2,400 faculty  1,620 residents  1,030 postdocs MUHAS UCSF Transition

MUHAS faces a huge challenge in classroom and practical teaching

Evolution of MUHAS-UCSF Partnership… MUCHS –UCSF partnership – designed to be institutional, not departmental Reference to Health Professions Edu, not ME Activities based on expressed institutional needs, beneficial to each partner BMGF: Grant for a 3-year Academic Learning Project Aim: Address the Tz health workforce crisis

ALP Organization Two Co-Principal Investigators Coordinator + counterpart for each activity area GHS and MUHAS top management Numerous exchange visits Intense Internet communication

The Academic Learning Project ALP focused on:  Building curricula  Strengthening teaching capacity  Continuing education for faculty  Harnessing research expertise

Main ALP activities – NIPT and NHPEPAG were set up – Centre for Health Professions Education initiated – MUHAS faculty training needs were determined – Analysis of MUHAS FD requirements conducted – New teaching, assessment + evaluation tools explored

Activities… Tracer Study of recent MUHAS graduates conducted to feed curriculum revision Curriculum reviewed – schools + institutes working together – students incorporated in process Maters programs in selected basic sciences developed to cultivate potential new faculty Group of faculty formed/trained to spearhead educational mission of MUHAS

ALP Outputs Curriculum-review facilitated/financed by ALP – UG: launch 2011/12; PG: launch 2012/13 Health Professions Educators Group (HPEG) – Started with 9 clinical, added 5 basic sciences – Trained by senior UCSF educators – 10 FD workshops – PG education course - as pilot (voluntary) 2011, - as part of curriculum 2012

ALP Outputs… Publications on ALP Journal of Public Health Policy supplement: “Universities in transition to improve public health” 15 peer reviewed articles Authors: 34 MUHAS, 18 UCSF

Two years on 1.The curriculum: CBC –a welcome departure – The challenge is effective delivery with the faculty #’s 2. The HPEG: Change agents in education process – Challenge: routine responsibilities, personal development vs HPEG activities – Feedback from workshops very encouraging 3.CHPE: Structure done. Equipment etc is pending. 5.MUHAS units learned to work together across professions

Centre for Health Professions Education The dream The reality DCEPD Interprofessional skills labs CE for in for in-service HP’s Media centre Telemedicine facilities

Two years on… MUHAS-UCSF link lives on – Faculty and student exchange – Professional contacts and friendships persist HPEG activities have widened – FD workshops continue to be offered – PG education course completed 2012/2013 – HPEG leaders were invited to Ethiopia Nov 2012 – Ethiopian team due in Dar in November 2013 Impact on health outcomes is still in the future

Conclusion MUHAS-UCSF ALP- a comprehensive partnership in education, different from research collaboration ALP initiated interprofessional dimension in training and service at both institutions Lessons from ALP can be applied to other links The ALP is not a done deed! MUHAS-UCSF: North-South partnership can be mutually beneficial

Thank you