Health Education Assessment Conintues in Haiti

The Project HOPE team spent the second day of its program to improve Haiti’s undergraduate medical education by meeting with multiple stakeholders at the offices of the Haitian Medical Association (AMH).

The morning began with both the HOPE team and their Canadian counterparts from the Academy of Faculties of Medicine Canada (AFMC) listening to presentations by each of the deans from the nation’s four universities, including the State University (UEH) , University of Notre Dame, University Lumière and University Quisqueya. Presentations described included current data on enrollment and faculty, strengths, weaknesses, future improvements and vulnerabilities. Additional presentations were given by representatives from AMH and the Ministry of Health, including current training efforts by the Brazilian and Cuban governments. Team members are trying to find ways to identify strategies for each university while also considering cross-cutting needs and overriding themes for medical education writ large. The morning proved to be highly informative, fostering an opportunity for the Haitian Council of Deans to engage in meaningful, open dialogue. 

Later in the evening, the two U.S. and Canadian teams re-grouped to review and discuss the challenges they faced ahead in the educational development program, and in particular the interdependent and external obstacles that accompany educational reform. Some of these obstacles include the need for administrative strengthening and leadership training; mechanisms to ensure accountability; the need to establish standards in academic competencies for all universities; and plans to strengthen the faculty, among many others.  

The next several days will be devoted to site visits and one-on-one interviews at the individual universities, as well as further discussions with the international community and donors.