An immersive plastic surgery rotation exchange between IU and Moi University
Do you have a desire to work with colleagues around the world to strengthen health systems and provide surgical care for people in resource-limited settings? The division of plastic and reconstructive surgery at Indiana University School of Medicine now offers plastic surgery residents the opportunity to experience an immersive, four-week global plastic surgery residency rotation at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, through a residency exchange program. This program is made possible through Indiana University's ongoing AMPATH Kenya partnership.
For more information, please email Emma Cordes, MD, global plastic surgery program director
Designed for fourth, fifth, and sixth year residents
The division of plastic and reconstructive surgery offers a global plastic surgery rotation to two residents annually, with plans to provide more positions in the future. Plastic surgery residents join a team of IU School of Medicine faculty who live and work in Kenya year-round and work alongside surgical faculty from the Moi University School of Medicine. During the rotation at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, residents observe a variety of surgical patient cases in plastic surgery and learn about the challenges of delivering effective care in resource-limited settings. They are also given the opportunity to present to Moi and IU faculty at educational and case conferences. Residents and fellows have helped to introduce brachial plexus surgery, replantation, and free tissue transfer to western Kenya as a result of this exchange.
As part of a reciprocal exchange, selected medical residents from Moi University School of Medicine also participate in a surgical rotation tailored around their clinical interests on the IU medical campus in Indianapolis.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Global Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Program, you must be an IU School of Medicine plastic and reconstructive surgery resident or fellow. A current passport, visa and immunizations are required as well as other documents that will facilitate participation.
This rotation is wonderful! Collaborating with the Kenyan surgeons on patient care has been a very educational experience, and I am so happy that I am able to be a part of this endeavor.
Julia Cook Beresford, MD
IU School of Medicine division of plastic and reconstructive surgery alum
Housing Information and Living in Eldoret
Global plastic and reconstructive surgery residents stay at IU House, a gated, secure community of homes in Eldoret, Kenya, managed by the IU Center for Global Health. Meals are available in the dining hall and a pantry is available for additional items. Eldoret is in the Rift Valley region of Kenya and is the capital of Uasin Gishu County, about a 5-hour drive west of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. The city is the fifth most populated urban area in Kenya, with more than 200K residents. The city is positioned at an altitude of approximately 7,000 feet and is an agricultural hub for grain, dairy and horticulture farming.
About Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital
Founded in 1917, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital is a national teaching and referral hospital serving residents from 24 counties in Kenya, as well as parts of Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The hospital features more than 1,000 specialized beds and can accommodate an average 1,300 inpatients and 1,500 outpatients daily. MTRH provides several specialized services, including oncology services (brachytherapy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy), intensive care unit services, kidney transplants, spine and neurosurgical operations, cardiology and cardiothoracic services, open heart surgery, corneal and arthroscopic surgeries, phototherapy, wound care and drug abuse and rehabilitative services.
IU's leadership of AMPATH supports training
The residency program is made possible through AMPATH, a partnership between Moi University, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital and the AMPATH Consortium of 15 academic health centers around the world, led by the IU Center for Global Health. The Center works in cooperation with IU Global, which provides leadership and advocacy for all international programs and helps coordinate resources for success.
Through an exchange with Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, surgical residents from both Moi University School of Medicine and Indiana University School of Medicine experience surgical rotations on both medical campuses.
AMPATH has:
- Trained more than 2,200 learners (more than 1,000 from IU School of Medicine)
- Earned $210+ million in research awards with 1K+ publications
- Expanded care to treat HIV, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases; adult and pediatric oncology; diabetes, neonatal and child health, mental health; plastic surgery, burn care, orthopedics, cardiothoracic surgery
