TY - JOUR
T1 - Partnership in fellowship
T2 - Comparative analysis of pediatric surgical training and evaluation of a fellow exchange between Canada and Kenya
AU - Baird, Robert
AU - Poenaru, Dan
AU - Ganey, Michael
AU - Hansen, Erik
AU - Emil, Sherif
N1 - Funding Information:
The fellow exchange program was initiated at the MCH in 2009 as an organized international rotation incorporated into the training program. The rotation met all the criteria for international rotations required by the American Board of Surgery ( http://www.absurgery.org/xfer/abs-rrc_intl_rotation.pdf ). It was approved by the Office of Postgraduate Medical Education at McGill University and the College des Medecins du Quebec, allowing the fellow to maintain salary and benefits during the rotation. The first MCH pediatric surgical fellow rotated at BKKH in the Spring of 2010. During the ensuing six months, the international rotation evolved into a pediatric surgical fellow exchange, and the first BKKH fellow rotated at the MCH in the fall of 2010. All of the costs of the exchange, including pre-travel preparations (vaccinations, visas, licenses, etc.), housing, and travel are covered for fellows of both programs. Initially, funding relied on an annual travel scholarship from the Canadian Association of Pediatric Surgeons (CAPS), in addition to academic funds from the MCH Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery. On several occasions, BKKH fellows were hosted by a family whose child was treated at the MCH. Subsequently, the program was supported by annual donations from the auxiliary of the MCH. Most recently, the program has been endowed through a large private donation to the MCH Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery.
Funding Information:
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation Zoe Saskin Endowment Fund, the former Auxiliary of the Montreal Children's Hospital, and the Canadian Association of Pediatric Surgeons for their generous financial support of this exchange program.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2016/10/1
Y1 - 2016/10/1
N2 - Background In pediatric surgery, significant differences in education and practice exist between developed and developing nations. We compared the training of senior fellows in a Canadian and a Kenyan pediatric surgery training program, and evaluated a fellow exchange between the programs. Methods The study was performed six years after creation of the exchange program. Areas studied included case volume and distribution, length of training, curriculum, work hours, and an estimate of service to education ratio. Perceived strengths and challenges of the exchange were investigated using questionnaires. Results Fellows at each site performed approximately 450 cases/year. Significant differences in case distribution were noted, with plastic surgery, urology and neurosurgery procedures being significantly more frequent in the Kenyan center, and neonatal, minimally invasive, and vascular access procedures being significantly more frequent in the Canadian center. All participants identified educational value in the exchange, although logistical challenges were significant. Conclusion Differences exist in the training experiences of pediatric surgical fellows in Canada and Kenya, reflecting the differences in health care environment, education, and surgical practice in the two countries. The exchange program of pediatric surgical fellows tapped into this rich diversity and may be applicable to other medical and surgical specialty training programs.
AB - Background In pediatric surgery, significant differences in education and practice exist between developed and developing nations. We compared the training of senior fellows in a Canadian and a Kenyan pediatric surgery training program, and evaluated a fellow exchange between the programs. Methods The study was performed six years after creation of the exchange program. Areas studied included case volume and distribution, length of training, curriculum, work hours, and an estimate of service to education ratio. Perceived strengths and challenges of the exchange were investigated using questionnaires. Results Fellows at each site performed approximately 450 cases/year. Significant differences in case distribution were noted, with plastic surgery, urology and neurosurgery procedures being significantly more frequent in the Kenyan center, and neonatal, minimally invasive, and vascular access procedures being significantly more frequent in the Canadian center. All participants identified educational value in the exchange, although logistical challenges were significant. Conclusion Differences exist in the training experiences of pediatric surgical fellows in Canada and Kenya, reflecting the differences in health care environment, education, and surgical practice in the two countries. The exchange program of pediatric surgical fellows tapped into this rich diversity and may be applicable to other medical and surgical specialty training programs.
KW - Exchange
KW - Fellowship
KW - Global
KW - Partnerships
KW - Pediatric surgery
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2016.06.002
DO - 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2016.06.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 27389051
AN - SCOPUS:84977104487
SN - 0022-3468
VL - 51
SP - 1704
EP - 1710
JO - Journal of Pediatric Surgery
JF - Journal of Pediatric Surgery
IS - 10
ER -