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Nephrology education in Haiti faces numerous challenges due to limited resources and access to specialized training. With only 7 nephrologists serving a population of 11 million people, the scarcity of local expertise has hindered the development of nephrology care in Haiti. To address this issue, the NephroEduHaiti project was initiated as an innovative solution to strengthen nephrology resident education in Haiti. The primary objective of the NephroEduHaiti project is to enhance the quality of nephrology education for internal medicine residents at Hopital Universitaire de Mirebalais (HUM) in Haiti by establishing a transcontinental video conferencing platform. This platform aims to connect Haitian medical residents with international experts, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and experiences. Additionally, the project seeks to foster collaboration and peer-to-peer learning among residents.
The project uses Zoom to connect Haitian internal medicine residents at HUM with nephrologists from France, Dartmouth Medical Center and the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Using the Successive Approximation Model (SAM) model, the project offers structured weekly lectures and case discussions. Virtual dialysis, urinalysis, and renal POCUS training are provided to attendings and residents. Regular sessions support real-time learning and mentorship. Most lectures are led by HUM faculty members and chief residents, ensuring understanding and assessment. Microsoft Forms assessments measure the educational impact, and most conferences are recorded for reference. We conducted a survey among medical residents and staff to assess the effectiveness of the NephroEduHaiti project.
NephroEduHaiti enhances nephrology knowledge and skills, boosting residents' confidence and global perspectives. It aims to build a sustainable network for nephrology care in Haiti. Notably, 69% of the 17 internal medicine residents strongly found it beneficial, the remaining 31% agreed. In terms of relevance, 63% fully agreed, and 31% agreed. For meeting expectations, 56% exceeded them, emphasizing the project's educational value. All senior residents can initiate and manage a hemodialysis (HD) session, as HUM has no dialysis nursing. A review of 194 patients with AKI at HUM between Jul, 2021 and Oct 2022, of which 19% received HD, 83% of these patients survived. These residents are now internists and play a crucial role in mitigating the shortage of nephrologists, improving the care provided to renal patients, and contributing to the prevention of kidney disease.
This project holds immense significance as it addresses a critical gap in healthcare education in Haiti. By bridging the educational divide through international video conferencing, NephroEduHaiti has the potential to elevate the quality of nephrology care, reduce mortality rates associated with kidney diseases, and promote global solidarity in medical education. Moreover, this approach with internists trained more extensively in nephrology using remote learning, will enable them to better manage kidney diseases, serving as a model for enhancing medical education in resource-limited settings worldwide. Furthermore, the ISN Sister Renal Transplant Center grant supports this project, as it plays a role in enhancing capacity-building endeavors.