AANEM Connect

Hi all,

I lead a PM&R training program for doctors across Sub-saharan Africa through the International Rehabilitation Forum www.rehabforum.org.  November is our neuromuscular month and I'm hoping to get some on-line teachers.  Also, if anyone has interest in teaching other areas, or in self-funded road trips to teach, please let me know: andyhaig@umich.edu.

The details:

With zero PM&R trained doctors in the region, we launched this 2-year, mostly on-line fellowship for physicians who are either already board certified (FP, neuro, ortho, etc.) or have a few years working in a rehab setting.  It's now the official board-certification in Ghana and Ethiopia, and we've got about 220 graduates in South Africa, with other countries joining in.  Under fellowship director Yunna Sinskey (Mary Free Bed PM&R) Fellows do local 'rotations', attend 3 hours of on-line lectures wednesday morning 7-10 a.m. EST, have research and other requirements, exams, etc.

The training is a challenge because of the mixed experience and current exposure of the clinicians. One might be world-class in amputee but not know where the median nerve is. Another may be doctor for a national soccer team but never run into a polyneuropathy.  At this stage most do not have access to an EMG machine. Yet we (the African leaders and I) feel that its critical that they all become competent in diagnosing and treating focal nerve issues and neuromuscular disorders.  We also feel that this first generation needs to at least know the language and logic of EMG, so that those who follow may choose a career.

Very basic EMG/neuromuscular is contained in 5 lectures I put YouTube (BTW, the technical intro video and EMG-1 video are great intro for American med students rotating through your lab...). However they need to get a pragmatic sense of diagnosis and treatment. so we're hoping to get experts who can do an hour of teaching-semi-lecture but cases and audience participation. If you're interested, drop me a note with your area of focus.  Great for your fellows/junior faculty to get some CV-fillers.

Also, though...working with West Virginia's Ken Wright, M.D., we're trying to organize longer-term mentorships and road trips for neuromuscular experts to visit and teach in person.  No, we have no money whatsoever for travel. but we know places to get good fu-fu, Ethiopian Coffee, and visit the South African elephants!  so let me know that, too.  

Thanks,

Andy