The University of Queensland (UQ) – Ochsner Clinical School and the government of Haiti have extended their long-standing partnership allowing medical students to study tropical medicine, social determinants of health and community medicine through a special clinical rotation in Haiti. Ochsner, in coordination with the Haitian Ministry of Health, introduced medical missions in Haiti to assist with the devastating aftermath of the January 2010 earthquake. In 2012, UQ – Ochsner Clinical School began offering one of their core rotations (called Medicine in Society) in Haiti to provide firsthand experience to 4th-year medical students.
“The country has seen so much devastation since the earthquake almost seven years ago,” said Yvens Laborde, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, University of Queensland – Ochsner Clinical School and Haitian native. “Through these rotations, our physicians and students have been able to treat over 3,500 people who had no other options for care. So many others have benefited from the supplies and preventative health education. I can personally tell you how important our work is and how appreciative the people of Haiti are.”
A health clinic, located in the northern region of Haiti, was established to assist people with needed medical services and supplies. This was done through a partnership with FONDYLSAHH, a Haitian non-profit organization promoting health, education, agriculture, and economic development.
Over the last five years, 24 students and 11 physicians have participated in the Medicine in Society rotation with an additional six students scheduled for the 2017 rotation. Beyond providing medical care, UQ – Ochsner Clinical School students have set up electronic medical records and a system for incorporating patient photographs to better manage and track patient treatments.
“We are proud of the collaboration and partnership we have with Ochsner because we share a focus on healthcare, education, nutrition and a holistic approach to care,” said Ernest Robert Jasmin, MD, Director, Haitian Health Ministry, Northern Department. “We feel this is an important platform for even greater clinical and academic initiatives.”
The 7.0 magnitude earthquake on January 12, 2010, nick-named “Goudougoudou” by the people of Haiti for its devastation, claimed over 250,000 lives and injured over 300,000 more. It left 1.5 million people homeless. Since then, Haiti has also been impacted by cholera outbreaks and hurricanes. This has left the country in need of medical attention as well as humanitarian support for even the most basic of essentials.
“As a medical school with the mission to train global leaders in medicine, it is vital that our students have opportunities to not just learn, but help provide healthcare where it is desperately needed,” said Leonardo Seoane, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine and Head of School, University of Queensland – Ochsner Clinical School. “Students learn social determinants of health, public health, tropical medicine, community medicine in resource-limited settings and professionalism. The experience has been transformative for those lucky students who have had the opportunity to rotate in Haiti.”
The UQ – Ochsner Clinical School, established in 2008, offers students the unique opportunity to be part of a truly international medical school experience. The UQ – Ochsner Clinical School is a partnership with the University of Queensland in Australia where students spend their first two years of study on the Brisbane campus, followed by their year third and fourth years of clinical education in Ochsner Health System hospitals and clinics in New Orleans. Through this program, students from the United States can experience the benefits of both a world-class university and a world-class healthcare organization. For more information, visit education.ochsner.org.