UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital’s Global Health Residency Program in Obstetrics/Gynecology and Reproductive Biology provides an innovative international experience
The residency trainee program at MacDonald Women’s Hospital, one of only 11 freestanding women’s hospitals in the United States, has offered a short international experience to its residents over the past six years. The recognition and respect for a comprehensive global health program that is sustainable and impacts the overall well being of women while training young physicians is representative of the forward thinking at University Hospitals. This vision will enrich our unique program. Care of women globally is currently the hallmark of only three other residency training programs in this country.
The disparity between developed countries and developing countries as it relates to maternal and child morbidity and mortality continues to plague the Millennium Goals as outlined in 2002. Women continue to succumb to deaths from preventable causes. These causes are Hemorrhage, infection, pre-eclampsia and induced abortion. The most recent statistics noted by the World Health Organization notes the maternal mortality in developed countries versus developing countries to be 1/4000 and 1/17 respectively. Neonatal deaths world wide was 6.3 million in 2000. Deaths in Africa, Asia, Caribbean and Latin America are 62/1000, 50/1000, 31/1000 and 20/1000, respectively (WHO 2010). These statistics continue to drive the agenda to prepare physicians to be global health providers.
The overall objective of the program is consistent with the direction of the United States global health initiative that is focused on achieving the Millennium development goals of improving maternal and child health. The faculty at UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital believes that investing in the training of our residents, faculty, nurses and students as global health providers will significantly contribute to this effort. A multi-specialty advisory board is actively involved in the global health program as mentors and educators. Local and international collaborations offer our participants experiences locally and abroad to sharpen their clinical skills in under- resourced environments. These collaborations will potentially establish sustainable programs with the hope of positive, measurable outcomes.