Volunteering as preceptor (= Family physician coach for medical students) in an under- and postgraduate Community & Family Medicine Rotation Program in a rural hospital for 6 wks.
The Family medicine undergraduate program organised by the Department of Family Medicine trains medical students in working in a rural setting.
The WHIG hopes together with Dutch FM-training institutes to realise such an option for a rural elective for aios in The Netherlands. The elective would be without doing clinical work, but rather focus on COPC and organisation of Primary care in a rural setting.
For this the Departments could ask the help of Family Practitioners (FPs ~ huisarts/ tropenarts) to assist in the training for 6 weeks. The travel and lodging are at your own expense. 4 periods have elapsed.
The 6 weeks formerly consisted of – 1 week both teaching & lectures week in Blantyre; – 4 weeks preceptor in Mangochi district hospital, – 1 week exam week Blantyre.
It would be an attractive option for Dutch FPs/ former tropical doctors (huisarts/ tropenartsen) to work as additional staff in a rural hospital coaching students in FM-principles, communication & skills.
Read the narrative of one day of the volunteers on education in Mangochi district hospital
This 6 weeks rotation takes place in Year 4 (MBBS IV) in a total of 5 year Medical Degree after which there is a period of 18 months compulsory clinical work (so total education takes 6.5 years).
Neno hospital (Partners In Health; PIH) and Nkhoma hospital have their own US-FPs who work in the same undergraduate program.
PIH has made an excellent document for preceptors in Neno hospital on what preparations to make
For further information we recommend contacting
1. Miriam van Goor (undergraduate coordinator) or
2. Prosper Lutala (Head of Department (HOD).
You need to register with the Malawian Medical board for 460 USD
Staff of Dep of FM and 6 registrars after a joint meal
Working for 3 months or more in a rural clinic as Family Practitioner
Dr. Jeannette van Os is a Dutch GP who already runs The Billy Riordan Memorial Clinic (huisartsenpraktijk) in Cape Maclear, a beautiful place boarding Lake Malawi. Irish and Scottish GPs come to help out in her practice. The application form & all information on the clinic can be found on the site of the Billy Riordan Memorial foundation
Jeannette in her clinic in Cape Maclear