老司机直播

老司机直播's Faculty of Medicine forging new paths in global women's health

Photo of Astrid Christoffersen-Deb
Project coordinator Justus Elung鈥檃t and Dr. Astrid Christoffersen-Deb (right), AMPATH field director, travelling to a remote pregnancy club that integrates health education, savings and loan programs (photo courtesy of Astrid Christoffersen-Deb)

A new medical specialty in global women鈥檚 health is emerging 鈥 and 老司机直播's Faculty of Medicine is harnessing Toronto鈥檚 strength as one of the world鈥檚 most diverse cities to lead the way.

The department of obstetrics and gynaecology has launched Canada鈥檚 first fellowship in global women鈥檚 health and equity, which will recruit a new obstetrician/gynaecologist (OBGYN) each year for a two-year fellowship program designed to empower a new generation of OBGYNs to practice women鈥檚 health in a global context.

Among other experiences, the fellows will run a longitudinal gynecology clinic at Women鈥檚 College Hospital and work extensively with field director in reproductive health, Dr. Astrid Christoffersen-Deb, an assistant professor in the department鈥檚 global health partnership program, through a health-care access partnership () with Moi University and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya.

In addition, through a partnership with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM), the fellow will spend time in Thunder Bay to gain an appreciation of Indigenous women鈥檚 health in Canada.

The fellowship will equip learners with a wide variety of cultural competencies and knowledge of social justice issues around reproductive and sexual health.

鈥淎 lot of people have been practising dimensions of global health without specialized training,鈥 said Rachel Spitzer, associate professor and vice chair in global health for the department of obstetrics and gynaecology. 鈥淲e want to consolidate postgraduate training in this important and growing area of our specialty, thereby developing a community of teachers for future generations of medical students, physicians in training and allied health professionals. We also wish to equip them with academic skills to advance research in global health.鈥

There are a few programs in the U.S., but multicultural Toronto is the ideal setting for anyone wanting to study global health, Spitzer said. 鈥淎lready, we鈥檙e practicing it.鈥

Focusing on global women鈥檚 health 鈥渨ill give people a sensitivity to learn about the needs of women in these populations, even if they鈥檙e not going to be an expert in every place these women come from or the languages they speak,鈥 Spitzer noted.

Mental health is an important component 鈥 learning specifically how to deal with people who have experienced trauma through an increased awareness and sensitivity to their suffering and its effects. The partnership with NOSM was facilitated through 老司机直播 OBGYN graduate Dr. Naana Jumah, who will provide individual fellows with an opportunity to learn about the delivery of women鈥檚 health care in rural and Indigenous communities and provide expertise in addiction medicine.

The first fellow has already started with graduation set for June 2017.

鈥淚 am delighted to see the successful launch of this exciting fellowship training program here at the University of Toronto, Canada鈥檚 most diverse city,鈥 says Professor John Kingdom, chair of the department of obstetrics and gynaecoology. 鈥淭he initiative brings together many interested groups at 老司机直播 and partners them with NOSM and with Moi University in Kenya. It is fitting that the first fellow graduates in June 2017, as this date marks the tenth anniversary of the partnership between 老司机直播 and Moi University, established by our former chair, Dr. Alan Bocking. It鈥檚 wonderful that his vision for global women鈥檚 health can be celebrated is such an exciting way, 10 years later鈥

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