University of Virginia Health System

International Linkage Program

Objective: To work collaboratively with institutions of higher education in other countries to develop, implement, and evaluate education and training projects; to design and conduct collaborative research studies; to offer exchange programs for faculty, residents, and medical students; and to assist in the procurement of educational resources and research and teaching materials.

The decision to develop a linkage with the University of Ghana emerged following discussions that began in Accra, Ghana, in 1991, between faculty at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and the University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS). This effort to develop a linkage culminated during the summer of 1993, with the signing of a collaborative agreement between UVA and The University of Ghana to develop joint programs in education and research. It eventually led to the development of linkage programs in Ghana, including the exchange of faculty and students and the Diabetes Disease Management Project.

In 1993 and 1994, initial discussions regarding the development of a diabetes disease management project in Ghana were held with representatives from Eli Lilly and Company at UVA. This resulted in the signing of an agreement between UVA, the UGMS, the University of Science and Technology School of Medical Science (USTSMS), and Eli Lilly and Company in Accra, Ghana, in May, 1995. It also resulted in a two-year award from the Eli Lilly and Company for the Diabetes Disease Management Project to the three institutions-UVA, UGMS, and USTSMS.

The purpose of this project was to develop and organize a training program in diabetes care and patient education for a multidisciplinary group of diabetes care providers-physicians, nurses, and dietitians. While the initial training at UVA was offered only to multidisciplinary teams from the two teaching hospitals, it was expected that this education would eventually be delivered at all tiers of the health care delivery system. Thus, a three-month program was conducted at UVA in the fall of 1995, involving three health care providers (a physician, nurse, and dietitian) from each of the two medical schools. Working with the groups from UGMS and USTSMS, a training process and curriculum was developed for diabetes care providers at the regional, district, and local levels of the health care system in Ghana. In May 1996, the multidisciplinary team went to Ghana and provided on-site assistance and feedback to the faculty of the first diabetes care training program for health care providers at the regional level in Ghana. A culturally-appropriate diabetes patient education booklet, "Living Well With Diabetes", was developed for use at all levels of the health care system in Ghana. It is presently being field tested for effectiveness and audience appropriateness. Separate draft versions of "Recommendations for Diabetes Care" at the regional, district, and local levels in Ghana have also been developed and are currently being field tested.

In addition to the Diabetes Disease Management Project, faculty and students have participated in exchange programs.  

Ghana Tropical Medicine Program (GTMP)

The Ghana Tropical Medicine Program (GTMP), which allows participants to have exposure to the full spectrum of tropical diseases, was started in 1993 and since its inception 63 medical students, 3 residents, and 10 faculty members have participated in the program.  The program consists of exposure at the Manna Mission Hospital, the Volta Rive Authority (VRA) Hospital, and the University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS) as well as visits to various places of interest for cultural experience.  Participants generally spend 6 to 8 weeks in Ghana.

The Manna Mission Hospital is a community hospital located in Teshie Nunga Estates, a suburb of Accra, the capital of Ghana.

The VRA Hospital is located in Akosombo, a rural part of Ghana about 90 miles from Accra.  While the participants are at the VRA Hospital they have the opportunity to participate in a 10 - 12 day expedition on the hospital ship that goes to village communities located along the Volta River.

The participants also have the opportunity to rotate through various clinical departments at the UGMS located in Korle Bu/Accra.

Below is a summary of the medical experience presented by Dr. Samay Jain who participated in this program in 2000.

Samay Jain's Experience in Ghana

During that same time period, 46 medical students from UGMS and USTSMS have come to the UVASOM. Additionally, 15 faculty from these two medical schools have traveled to UVASOM, either as faculty fellows, guest lecturers, or consultants. Six of the fifteen were involved in the three-month training program through the Diabetes Disease Management Project. Ten UVA faculty have also participated in the exchange program in Ghana.

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