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JULY / AUGUST 2002

BULLETIN

In this issue:

: Hospital partnership in Greece to improve clinical quality, training
: New program to boost education and patient care in Zimbabwe hospital
: U.S., Taiwan exchange lets students see different approach to medicine
: Dr. Timothy Brewer receives first Klaus Peter Award for International Medical Education
: Workshop in Russia teaches infection control and evidence-based medicine
: Reception lets HMI partners from China, Germany, and India get acquainted

Hospital partnership in Greece to improve clinical quality, training
On May 20, HMI signed an agreement with Hygeia Hospital Corporation in Athens, Greece to form a partnership focused on clinical medicine and training. Hygeia is the leading private hospital in Athens, a 369-bed facility that provides high-quality comprehensive care and houses sophisticated medical technology. The relationship with HMI will provide educational programs to aid the hospital in its goal to be a regional leader in clinical excellence. The program will focus on quality management within the hospital, as well as continuing medical education programs and educational exchanges. “Hygeia is one of the finest private hospitals in Europe and we look forward to working with them as they broaden their academic programs,” said Dr. Harvey Makadon, HMI director of health systems.

Members of Hygeia and HMI meet in Athens to sign an agreement

New program to boost education and patient care in Zimbabwe hospital
On May 30, 2002, Dr. Daud Dube, Deputy Chairman of the Zimbabwe Health Care Trust (ZHCT), and Dr. Robert Crone, president and CEO of HMI, signed an agreement outlining a three-year cooperative relationship to bring a quality management program, post graduate medical education programs, and technical assistance to the Trust’s Ekusileni Medical Centre in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. HMI will also consult with the ZHCT on the implementation of a Hospital Information System, and provide the Ekusileni Medical Centre with the tools necessary to deliver medical services at an international standard.

This collaboration has been several years in the making, and represents HMI’s first relationship in sub-Saharan Africa. It advances HMI’s desire to carry its mission of “one world, one medicine” to new and emerging regions. HMI is also looking forward to a visit in late summer by Dr. Mthuli Ncube, the Chairman of the Ekusileni Medical Centre Board.

Dr. Daud Dube, left, signs an agreement with the HMI team: Al Gillis, Dr. Robert Crone, Dr. Harvey Makadon, and Dr. Andrew Jeon

U.S., Taiwan exchange lets students see different approach to medicine
Charles Hsu was the first student at Harvard Medical School to complete a one-month clinical rotation at National Taiwan University (NTU) in April, as part of a partnership between NTU and HMI. Two other HMS students also participated in rotations in April and May. Hsu, whose rotation was in the dermatology department, divided his time between various general and specialty dermatology clinics, laser treatment rooms, and minor surgery rooms.

Hsu was particularly interested in seeing medicine in Taiwan because of his personal heritage there. “I feel that this short experience in NTU, my first in a medical setting in Taiwan, was invaluable in giving me a better understanding of the challenges I will face at both the personal and health care system level, should I decide to come back to practice,” he said. “At this point, I feel surer that I will in fact pursue this goal.”

Several students from NTU have also studied at HMS--four this year participated in clinical rotations at Harvard-affiliated hospitals.

Dr. Timothy Brewer receives first Klaus Peter Award for International Medical Education


Dr. Timothy Brewer, right, receives the Klaus Peter award from Dr. Robert Crone, left, HMI’s president and CEO, and Dr. Tom Aretz, HMI director of medical education

On May 29 HMI presented the first Klaus Peter Award for International Medical Education to Dr. Timothy Brewer, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and member of the Channing Laboratory at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Brewer was selected as this year’s recipient from the recommendation of the Chairman of the Academic Society Committee on International Programs at HMS, of which Brewer is a member. Fellow faculty members and students have admired Brewer for his dedication and commitment as a mentor for medical students, helping them develop their own summer international clinical research projects.

The award, established in honor of Prof. Dr. Klaus Peter, dean of the Medical Faculty at Ludwig Maximilians University (LMU) in Munich, Germany, will be awarded annually to an HMS faculty member who has contributed significantly to the field of international medical education, international exchanges and mentoring of international students, residents and fellows at HMS. Dean Peter was instrumental in the establishment and in the continuing success of the six-year Alliance between LMU and HMS. The Alliance affords LMU students the opportunity to gain insight into the New Pathway program through clinical rotations, electives and specially designed courses in medical education. LMU now serves as a leader and role model in German medical education and has received several national awards.

Workshop in Russia teaches infection control and evidence-based medicine
HMI worked with colleagues at the Infection Control Training Center at the St. Petersburg Mechnikov Medical Academy to deliver a one-week workshop in St. Petersburg, Russia June 24 -28. The workshop focused on prevention of surgical site infection and use of evidence-based medicine to reevaluate and revise current clinical practices. Participating in the workshop were two highly distinguished faculty members from the U.S.: Dr. William Silen, professor of surgery emeritus at Harvard Medical School, and Dr. Walter Hierholzer, professor of medicine emeritus, Yale Medical School.

Building on the latest clinical reviews, the workshop also addressed development and implementation strategies for clinical practice guidelines and continuing technical assistance to the Russian Ministry of Health in their effort to revise antiquated health care legislation.

Reception lets HMI partners from China, Germany, and India get acquainted


	Dr. Lin Faxiong of China Worldbest Group, left, talks with Dr. Wolfgang Bergler of the University of Heidelberg at Mannheim

On April 29, HMI held a reception at the Harvard Faculty Club for representatives from three of its partner institutions who were all visiting Boston at the time: the University of Heidelberg at Mannheim, Germany; the China Worldbest Group Company from Shanghai, China; and Wockhardt Hospitals, Ltd., of Mumbai, India. “The reception was a real success,” said HMI President and CEO Dr. Robert Crone. “We always look for ways to promote communication between our partners, and the informal setting was ideal to let everyone get acquainted and find common ground. It was very gratifying to have health care professionals from Germany, China, India and the U.S. discussing the challenges that we all face in our efforts to improve medical education and the delivery of health care in our respective communities.”