The Medical Education Partnership Initiative Transforming Medical Education in Tanzania
Duke Global Health Institute recently completed a five-year, $10 million project—the Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI)—with long-time collaborators at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUC), Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC) in Moshi, Tanzania, and Catholic University of Allied Sciences and Bugando Medical Center in Mwanza, Tanzania. The initiative was funded through KCMC by the Health Resources and Services Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
In the fall of 2015, the Fogarty International Center awarded KCMUC $3 million for a second cycle of MEPI to build clinical, research and teaching capacity of junior faculty at the partnering Tanzanian institutions over the five-year project. Weill Cornell Medical College has joined the partnership.
The first cycle of MEPI increased enrollment and retention of medical students and improved the quality of medical education at the partnering Tanzanian institutions.
In May 2016, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College and Catholic University of Allied Sciences were ranked the #1 and #2 medical schools in Tanzania, respectively, by the East African Community.
MEPI: Building on a 21-Year Partnership
DGHI associate director for research and MEPI co-principal investigator John Bartlett describes the goals and highlights a few successes of the first cycle of MEPI.
“The phrase ‘capacity building’ is frequently used and often unrealized. MEPI’s success in truly building capacity has set KCMUC on the course for leadership in medical education and research in all of Africa.”
—John Bartlett, DGHI associate director for research and MEPI co-principal investigator
Enhancing Medical Education with Technology
The technology that MEPI brought to Tanzania is the single greatest impact of the project to date, according to Kien Mteta, MEPI co-principal investigator and director general of the Bugando Medical Center in Mwanza, Tanzania, and John Bartlett.
“We were able to transform the culture of medical education in Tanzania by using technology to train students.”
—Egbert Kessi, Provost, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College
MEPI: Ingredients of Success
Ahaz Kulanga, deputy provost at KCMUC, and John Bartlett share what they think made this partnership successful.
Establishing a Global Partnership
Three of our Tanzanian partners—Paschalis Rugarabamu, Kien Mteta and Egbert Kessi—offer advice on establishing and nurturing a productive north-south collaboration.
“Partnerships begin with relationships. Building relationships that have mutual respect, communication, and common goals is absolutely crucial.”
—John Bartlett, DGHI Associate Director for Research
John Bartlett, Paschalis Rugarabamu and Ahaz Kulanga share a laugh during a recent meeting with Duke University president Richard Brodhead in Durham, North Carolina.
Duke University president Richard Brodhead learns about the work of lab technicians Augustine Musiyo and Shanette Nixon.
John Bartlett, DGHI associate director for research, talks with professor Noel Sam.
MEPI: Looking Ahead
What are the team’s hopes and dreams for the second cycle of MEPI? Hear about the outcomes Paschalis Rugarabamu, vice chancellor at Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, and John Bartlett hope to achieve:
“With this funding, we will be able to develop junior faculty who will eventually serve as a critical mass of trainers who are highly skilled in research.”
—Ahaz Kulanga, Deputy Provost, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College
On behalf of John Bartlett, associate director of research, DGHI would like to recognize and extend our sincere gratitude to our key MEPI collaborators:
- Egbert Kessi, provost, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College
- Ahaz Kulanga, deputy provost, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College
- Kien Mteta, director general, Bugando Medical Center and MEPI co-principal investigator
- Paschalis Rugarabamu, vice chancellor, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences
- Dan Fitzgerald, professor of medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College
- Charles Muiruri, program director, DGHI
