Providing Outreach Continuing Education in Countries with Limited Resources

Abstract

Obtaining continuing education can be difficult in countries with limited resources. Members of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) have developed a program for providing outreach continuing education courses in pediatric orthopaedics. POSNA members provide their own transportation to the host country, while the orthopaedic physicians along with the educational institutions in the host country in turn provide the support needed to carry out the courses. They also provide lodging, meals, and local transportation. Since its inception in 1998, 30 courses have been conducted in 19 countries with limited resources. The program has expanded to develop a partnership with the European Pediatric Orthopaedic Society. The protocol for organizing the courses is discussed.

Appendix 1

EPOS/POSNA Partnership on Organizing and Conducting Outreach Continuing Education Courses (OCEC) Protocol

Mission Statement

For both Societies, the education and training that are aimed to advance the knowledge in pediatric orthopaedics of orthopedic residents/trainees and surgeons are an essential part of their mission.

History

Both POSNA and EPOS have acknowledged in the past the desire of pediatric orthopaedists to continue and improve their professional education. During the last few years, we have become increasingly aware that the need for specialization and continuing education is often hampered in many parts of the world by the lack of resources. The funds are often insufficient to ensure the physicians’ participation at the conferences and courses organized locally with leading specialists, or to allow them to travel to other countries to attend professional meetings and courses with lecturers who are experts in their specialty.

This state of affairs has yielded the idea to unite the efforts of our societies and create a common education task force, which will include a small group of four to six pediatric orthopaedists who are POSNA/EPOS members (or members of the alliance organizations). They will volunteer to travel and join the specialists from the host/inviting country as well as those from neighboring countries in conducting teaching activities.

POSNA and EPOS members have a professional responsibility to advance the knowledge in pediatric orthopaedics and to strengthen their collaboration based on mutual respect and equality with the worldwide community of pediatric orthopaedists.

Structure

EPOS and POSNA have decided to cooperate in setting up Outreach Continuing Education Courses (OCEC) in pediatric orthopaedics within the framework of a full partnership.

The board of each society shall nominate a delegate or chairman who will be responsible for the communication between the societies.

Both societies have agreed to exchange information about planned OCEC, preferably at least one year in advance before making final decisions with regard to event location, date, faculty or program. The Board of each society should consider the option whether to participate or not in a specific course.

The number of volunteers from EPOS and POSNA, as well as the number and titles of lectures of each faculty will be decided by the coordinator of the initiating organization in agreement with the local course director according to the needs of the specific instructional course.

The announcement of the projected courses, recruitment and nomination of volunteers will be coordinated by the chairmen who will use to this end the websites and communication resources of all the parties involved: POSNA, EPOS, the local host, as well as those of the allied societies. Our societies will use the available internet-based systems to support the events organization as well as the creation of a network of potential volunteers and a virtual meeting space for those interested in having organized such a course in their region.

Funding of the Course

Members in POSNA, EPOS, or allied organizations who volunteer to participate and lecture at an instructional course will fund their own travel expenses to and from the host country. The local host or hosting organization will provide the accommodation and meals to the visiting EPOS and POSNA faculty.