Improving Rural Health, A Lao PDR and University of Calgary Collaboration Did you know? There are more than 175 graduates of the two-year Family Medicine Specialist Program and 28 new Laos doctors have entered the program this year. LIFE LONG LEARNING FOR FAMILY MEDICINE SPECIALISTS IN LAOS FALL 2016 - ISSUE 3 Adopt-a-Region Doctors Lemaire, Brown and McKinnon from UC and Dr Senpasert, a FMS graduate, A further observation is the Family Medicine conducted training workshops for Laos Specialist graduates have become leaders in What is Adopt-a-Region? Family Medicine Specialists and their their hospitals and in their communities. colleagues; as well as for Laos medical This speaks to the quality of the two-year Medical educators from the University of educators. Based in Pakse, team members post graduate training program that was Calgary have adopted specific regions within travelled south to Don Khong District collaboratively established and continues to Laos where they travel to, at least annually, Hospital (on an island of the Mekong River be supported by UC , Lao PDR UHS, and the developing long-standing, collaborative near the Cambodian border); north to Lao Ministry of Health. relationships with their Lao colleagues. The Khongsedone District Hospital (on the west objective is to develop and support Family bank of the Sedone River), south to the Don Moving Forward Medicine Specialist training sites at Talad District Hospital, and east to Sekong FMS physicians have asked for continued provincial and district hospitals at these Provincial Hospital. The physicians training on the following topics: “adopted” areas using a collaborative conducted workshops on teamwork and mentorship model between Lao PDR . Quality Improvement professionalism at these hospital sites. The University Health Sciences (UHS) and . Teamwork group also conducted Medical Education University of Calgary (UC) physicians. Maternal and Newborn Health workshops for Laos physician medical . Pediatrics educators at the Champasak Provincial The Family Medicine Specialist training . Surgery Hospital in Pakse. program, implemented in 2005, was . Obstetrics and Gynecology developed by UC and UHS Faculty to improve the training of front line, family Within the next six months, twelve UC medicine doctors working mainly in remote faculty medical educators are scheduled to and rural areas. travel to various locations within Laos to address the training needs at District and Four provincial hospitals and their associated Provincial Hospitals; as well as to support the district hospitals are now formal training Continuing Medical Education Forum. centers for Lao Family Medicine Specialist (details below). (FMS) physicians (refer to map). The training sites are: th . Maria Theresa Provincial Hospital The 8 Annual Continuing Medical in Vientiane Province (located near Education Forum is January 16, 17, 18 Vientiane City) 2017 in Vientiane. More than 150 . Khammouan Provincial Hospital graduates of the Family Medicine Specialist (located in Thakhek City) (FMS) program are expected to attend. Savannakhet Provincial Hospital FMS graduates work mainly in rural areas (located in Savannakhet City) throughout Laos fulfilling a huge role in . Champasak Provincial Hospital What struck me the most is how well health care through patient care, ongoing (located in Pakse City) entrenched the UC Faculty members are in medical education, and leadership. the Laos community. The Laos and UC Observing Adopt-a-Region in Action Thank you to Rotary International for physicians have become trusted colleagues By Laurie Manion, volunteer, Lao Project support of the CME; providing an and friends with a history of successful It was my great pleasure to travel to Laos opportunity for FMS doctors to update collaboration. This has resulted from having recently and observe UC and Lao PDR skills and interact with peers to exchange the same UC faculty members travelling to doctors conducting workshops together in knowledge and share ideas. the same area annually for many years. Champasak Province, southern Laos. Laos Pictures Examples of a Example of a District Hospital Provincial Hospital Rural Life Laos National Flower -The Champa The Mekong River Laos National Animal - The Asian Elephant .