Partnership between Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital and UMass Chan Medical School strengthens global health education

The AO Alliance has facilitated an exciting and impactful partnership between the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre, Malawi, and the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (UMass Chan) in the USA. This collaboration, which began in 2023, is focused on an exchange program that brings together the expertise and experience of trauma and orthopedic surgeons from both institutions, creating opportunities for mutual learning and improved patient care.

At the heart of this partnership is an ethos of “learning from each other as equals.” As Dr Don Hangen, an Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at UMass Chan, puts it, “We’ve been really impressed with the quality of work and knowledge base in QECH, and we have a lot to learn from them.” Hangen visited QECH in 2023, accompanied by one of his orthopedic residents, Dr Celestine Warren. The visit marked the start of a broader initiative to foster an interest in global health for UMass Chan residents while contributing to the local healthcare system at QECH.

The collaboration is more than just an exchange of skills; it also includes material support. UMass Chan will supply educational resources and medical equipment to bolster orthopedic care at QECH. In return, registrars from QECH are set to travel to UMass Chan as part of the exchange program, learning in a new context.

One of the key benefits for UMass Chan residents is exposure to the challenges of practicing trauma and orthopedic surgery in a high-need, resource-limited setting. The hospital’s trauma burden is significant, with as many as 30 to 40 operative cases pending daily. “It is important for our residents to gain global health experience,” says Hangen. “They get hands-on surgical training while learning to be creative and resourceful with limited resources. This not only enhances their clinical skills but also helps them build relationships abroad.”

In April 2024, Dr Forrest Rackard, Chief Resident at UMass Chan, visited QECH. “Drs Nohakhelha Nyamulani, Chikumbutso Mpanga, and Kaweme Mwafulira have created an enriching educational environment that complements the substantial clinical exposure for orthopedic registrars and clinical officers. The trauma burden is significant, requiring high-level triage every day. Despite these challenges, the team at QECH approaches each day with a sense of joy,” recounts Rackard.

Warren, who accompanied Hangen on the initial visit, was similarly impressed by the skill and resourcefulness of the QECH surgeons. “I learned a huge amount from the surgical team at QECH. What really stood out was how technically excellent the surgeons were, despite the limited resources. There was a real sense of conservation and repurposing that I haven’t seen in many hospitals in the US.”

Mpanga, an orthopedic surgeon at QECH, highlights the mutual benefits of this partnership. “QECH and the people of Malawi will benefit directly from the equipment brought by the UMass team amongst other things, and the UMass team will benefit from seeing pathologies that may have been referred to specialist centers as we manage everything orthopedic. For example, soft tissue management and closure in open fractures is managed by the orthopedic team, which is different from other centers where plastic surgeons would have taken up that role.”

The partnership exemplifies the power of collaboration in medical education, providing an invaluable opportunity for UMass Chan residents to gain a broader perspective on healthcare. It is expected that two to four UMass Chan residents will visit QECH annually, while QECH registrars will also benefit from training in the US, further strengthening the bonds between the two institutions.

Claude Martin Jr, Don Hangen, Nohakhelha Nyamulani, Forrest Rackard, and Chikumbutso Mpanga.