Case Western Reserve University/National University of Laos
State:
Ohio
Country:
Laos
Award Date:
1999
Award Amount:
$100,000.00
Cost Share:
$742,674.00
Other Partners:
Khon Kaen University (Thailand); Health Frontiers (an all-volunteer U.S. non-profit organization); Mahosot Hospital and Setthathirath Hospital (teaching hospitals in Vientiane); Rainbow Babies; Children’s Hospital
This partnership developed Lao capacity to provide postgraduate training in pediatrics and internal medicine. With help from volunteer expatriate faculty, Case Western Reserve University successfully assisted the National University of Laos to develop the country’s first full-time postgraduate medical education program. The partnership graduated eight Lao-trained pediatricians. Five of the graduates returned to their provincial hospitals and three joined the Lao pediatric faculty in Vientiane. The university launched a three-year internal medicine residency training program with six residents in training. Partners also established the Lao Pediatric Residency training program, with 19 physicians currently enrolled. Inspired by the success of the pediatric program, a new internal medicine residency curriculum was developed. Khon Kaen University (KKU) in Thailand has provided clinical training rotations for Lao pediatric residents in specialty fields not currently available in Laos. The partnership hosted 21 volunteer faculty visits from eight institutions, three of which were yearlong commitments.