The Benefits of a University Partnership to Strengthen Clinical Associates Education

in South Africa: My Perspective

Victor Mokokotlela, BCMPClinical Associate, Carletonville District Hospital, Gauteng Province

Graduate, Bachelor of Clinical Medical Practice, University of the Witwatersrand

Satellite Session on Twinning s XIX International AIDS Conference s Washington, DC s 25 July 2012

Presentation Overview

• What Is a Clinical Associate?

• Partnership Overview

• Key Successes and Programme Overview

• Partnership Activities

• Lessons Learned

• Recommendations for Capacity Building Partnerships

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

What Is a Clinical Associate?

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Partnership Overview

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Wits – Emory Partnership

167 Wits BCMP students enrolled

25 Wits BCMP Clinical Associates working in 16 district hospitals

University of the Witwatersrand

EmoryUniversity

AIHA Twinning Center

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

• 2 year Master’s degree• Average age: 24/25• first year didactic • Second year clinical +

elective

• 3 year Bachelor’s degree• Average age: 18/19• First year - Clinical and

didactic • Second year: largely

didactic with regular TBL’s

• Third year: Clinical + elective

The Partners

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Partnership Activities

• Student to student interactions

• Exchanges in study material and curricula

• Support meetings/communication between the three universities including partners

• Development the honors program

• International Association of Physician Associate Educators (IAPAE) – Sept 16-18 (Johannesburg)

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

The Three Representatives

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Importance of Partnership Exchanges

• Mentorship • Accelerate development• Sharing experiences/expertise• Enhances the educational quality of both

parties

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Importance of Partnership Exchanges

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

The Most Important Dinner Invitation of My Life

Professional Association Building

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Lessons Learned

• Continuing development through empirical experience of the PA programs in the USA

• Mould the Clinical Associates profession to suit the South African health system

• Clinical Associates need to be at the forefront of development of the profession

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

There are many benefits …

Recommendations for Capacity-building Partnerships

• Exchange visits both directions are crucial (US to Africa and Africa to US)

• Support for the profession/graduates

• Need to have more participants

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Acknowledgements

The American International Health Alliance (AIHA), HIV/AIDS Twinning CenterJim Smith, Kelly Wolfe, John Capati, Janna Smith, Loveness Satande

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Neil Jacobs, Letitia Robinson, Lorena Espinoza

Emory University Dana Sayre-Stanhope, Marquitha Mayfield

The University of the Witwawtersrand Ian Couper, Audrey Gibbs, Abigial Dreyer

Professional Association of Clinical Associate in South AfricaEdwin. L Leballo

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

We would like to acknowledge the following people for their work in making this twinning partnership possible:

(Thank You slide)

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Rea Leboha/Thank you