International Fellowship program for women’s in the field of Health

Job Description: The purpose of this program is to provide training for clinical OB/GYN physicians in global women’s health research and service provision. We will educate future leaders in the global health community who will develop educational initiatives, improve clinical services, and promote research in global women’s reproductive health. The program will complement existing clinical skills in Obstetrics and Gynecology with public health course work, international field experience, and mentorship. Fellows will be expected to utilize collaborations within the UIC community (School of Public Health, School of Nursing, Department of Anthropology) and develop relationships with international governmental and non-governmental organizations in order to perform effective global health work. The program will be a platform to build strong relationships in locations and situations that lack the infrastructure and/or organization to address reproductive health issues. There are limited opportunities for advanced training of this nature. Given the growing need for physician leadership in the international women’s health community, this program will provide experience, leadership, and opportunities in global women’s health research and clinical care.

The program strives to develop initiatives in women’s reproductive health, and provides mentorship and leadership opportunities to effectively administer such programs.

Fellowship Goals

1. Comprehensive application of clinical reproductive health concepts and skills in global health.
2. Build a solid fund of knowledge about global reproductive health issues and the public health infrastructure around the world.
3. Understand and apply the concepts of sustainability and capacity building in global women’s health.
4. Develop the ability to perform a needs assessment of reproductive health care systems and identify pertinent health issues.
5. Develop an education and/or research project to address a reproductive health issues for a specific population.
6. Conduct clinical and field research based on solid scientific methods.
7. Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and quality of global reproductive health programs.
8. Establish network and skills for educational exchange, research, and funding.
9. Develop administrative skills to organize and implement international reproductive health programs abroad and integrate them into existing health systems.

Field Experience

The fellow will be given the opportunity to create a research program that matches her/his professional goals. Potential sites and topics include:

a. Nigeria, Ghana, India , collaborate with Stacie Geller, Maternal Health

b. Kenya, collaborate with Robert Bailey (school of public health), HIV/STI

c. Rural India, collaborate with Bryna Harwood, Family Planning

d. Tanzania, collaborate with Dr Betsy Abrams, Dept of Anthropology

e. Humanitarian aid and relief work, i.e. UIC efforts in Haiti

f. Medical mission trips, i.e. Bolivia

g. NGO, program directorships

h. Collaborative efforts with other fellowship programs

i. Self-directed programs in health education, health promotion, public health, medical education, etc.

Details on Fellowship structure

Training in the fellowship will allow the fellow to tailor their experience based on individual interest while providing a foundation for work in global women’s health. Areas of focus may include capacity building, educational programs, program implementation, outcomes research, and international public health. Fellows will meet with mentors every two weeks at the initial stages of the fellowship, and monthly and as-needed after the first 4 months.

Duration of fellowship

The fellowship is a two year program which incorporates the public health coursework, clinical obstetrics and gynecology responsibilities, and global health field work/research. A one year fellowship is possible for those that have already received their MPH degree at the discretion of the fellowship directors.
Requirements

Interested candidates must be residency trained, board eligible/board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Candidates should have a strong desire to contribute to the field of international health.

Applications

Deadline for applications September 15, 2010. To apply, please send* a letter of interest (please include research interests, why you are applying for the fellowship, what you hope to gain from the fellowship, experience with global health/diverse patient populations, etc.), a brief personal statement, and a curriculum vitae to:

Sherry Nordstrom MD or Tracy Irwin, MD, MPH

Directors, Global Women’s Health Fellowship

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

820 S. Wood St. M/C 808

Chicago, IL 60612

Office: 312-996-7430

Fax: 312-996-4238

Email: sherryn@uic.edu

tracyi@uic.edu