Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biomedical Research at Namibia’s First School of Medicine and Pharmacy

  • Monograph
  • Published:
Medical Science Educator Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Research is an integral part of the curricula of both the pharmacy and medical degree programs at the University of Namibia (UNAM) School of Medicine (SOM). Early in their career students identify research projects and pursue them within the context of their degree program. At a fundamental level these projects expose students to the scientific method and encourage the development of analytical and interpretative tools that will be important in their professional lives. The inclusion of research as a subject significantly aligns the institutions’ research agenda with the health needs of the country. Research at UNAM SOM, within both the medicine and pharmacist degree programs, aims to nurture self-directed learning within an inter-professional milieu.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Eichbaum Q, Nyarango P, Bowa K, Odonkor P, Ferrão J, Mashalla Y, Vainio O, Vermund SH. “Global networks, alliances and consortia” in global health education-the case for south-to south partnerships. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2012; 61(3):263–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Mullan F, Frehywot S, Omaswa F, Buch E, Chen C, Greysen SR, et al. Medical schools in sub-Saharan Africa. Lancet. 2011; 377(9771):1113–1121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Greysen SR, Dovlo D, Olapade-Olaopa EO, Jacobs M, Sewankambo N, Mullan F. Medical education in sub-Saharan Africa: a literature review. Med Educ. 2011; 45(10):973–986.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Beattie P, Renshaw M, Davies C. Strengthening health research in the developing world: malaria research capacity in Africa [Internet] The Wellcome Trust; 1999 [cited 2 Feb 2006]. http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/assets/wtd003224.pdf.

  5. Hofman K, Ryce A, Prudhomme W, Kotzin S. Reporting of non-communicable disease research in low- and middle-income countries: a pilot bibliometric analysis. J Med Libr Assoc. 2006; 94(4):415–420.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Sodjinou R, Agueh V, Fayomi B, Delisle H. Obesity and cardio-metabolic risk factors in urban adults of Benin: relationship with socioeconomic status, urbanisation, and lifestyle patterns. BMC Public Health. 2008; 4:8:84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Medical professionalism in the new millennium: A physician charter. Ann of Intern Med. 2002; 136:243–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Blank L, Kimball H, McDonald W, Merino J. Medical professionalism in the new millennium: A physician charter 15 months later. Ann of Intern Med. 2003; 138:839–841.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Frishman, WH. Student research projects and theses: should they be a requirement for medical school graduation? Heart Dis. 2001; 3(3):140–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Zier, K, Coplit LD. Introducing INSPIRE, a scholarly component in undergraduate medical education. Mt Sinai J Med. 2009; 76(4):387–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Houlden, RL, Raja, JB, Collier, CP, Clark, AF, Waugh, JM. Medical student’s perceptions of an undergraduate research elective. Med Teach. 2004; 26(7):659–661.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Biggs J. Enhancing teaching through constructive alignment. High Educ. 1996; 32:347–364.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Gipps C. Socio-Cultural Aspects of Assessment. Rev Educ Res. 1999; 24:355–392.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Shepard LA: The role of assessment in a learning culture. Educ Res. 2000; 29(7):4–14.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Glew RH. Promoting collaborations between biomedical scholars in the US and sub-Saharan Africa. Exp Biol Med. 2008; 233(3):277–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Burdick WP, Morahan PS, Norcini JJ. Slowing the brain drain: FAIMER education programmemes. Med Teach. 2006; 28(7):631–634.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Willis M, Deardorff A. Developing a research-focused learning community at one medical school. Med Sci Edu. 2011;21(1S):98–103.

    Google Scholar 

  18. CichoskiKelly EM. Using Research as a tool for reinforcing basic sciences in the clinical years: Description of a fourth year teaching/research requirement at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. Med Sci Edu 2011;21(1S):59–62.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Neville AJ. Problem-based learning and medical education forty years on. A review of its effects on knowledge and clinical performance. Med Princ Pract. 2009;18:1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia

    Christian Jacobson, Christian J. Hunter & Quenton Wessels

  2. University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

    Christian Jacobson

Authors
  1. Christian Jacobson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Christian J. Hunter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Quenton Wessels
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Quenton Wessels.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jacobson, C., Hunter, C.J. & Wessels, Q. Biomedical Research at Namibia’s First School of Medicine and Pharmacy. Med.Sci.Educ. 23 (Suppl 1), 135–140 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03341818

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03341818

Keywords

Search

Navigation