Global Health Rotation Program
For Stanford Urology residents, medical education extends beyond the walls of operating rooms, clinics, and lecture halls in California. Through the Stanford Urology Global Health Rotation, fourth-year residents have the opportunity to participate in a transformative four-week program at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC) in Moshi, Tanzania. This experience allows them to gain firsthand exposure to global healthcare challenges, resource-limited medicine, and cross-cultural medical education.
Led by Dr. H. Gill and Dr. Simon Conti, the program provides residents with an educational time-out from their traditional training. This allows them to immerse themselves in a new healthcare system while contributing meaningfully to the local medical community. The program is designed to foster both teaching and learning, ensuring that residents not only share their expertise but also gain insights from local physicians and medical trainees.
During their time at KCMC, Stanford Urology residents engage in a range of clinical and educational activities. They observe patient care, participate in surgical procedures under the supervision of local consultants, attend lectures and conferences, and engage in simulation training. In addition, they participate in teaching local medical students and residents through lectures and conferences.
The Stanford Urology Global Health Rotation is designed to provide residents with an immersive learning experience that challenges them to adapt to new clinical environments. At KCMC, residents are taught through interaction, observation, and feedback, enabling them to gain a profound understanding of patient care in a resource-limited setting. Exposure to different medical approaches helps them develop strategies for providing sustainable healthcare while working with limited resources. Additionally, the rotation introduces residents to unique pathologies that are more commonly treated in Tanzania than in the U.S.
Stanford Urology fully funds the residents' Global Health Rotation program, covering all essential expenses, including airfare, lodging, health insurance, transportation, meals, visa, and occupational health clearance. The next cohort of residents will be traveling between April and May and we can’t wait to share updates from their journey- stay tuned!
Nikola Teslovich, MD
"It's incredible how a few weeks in another country can change your approach to years of training in your own. Spending several weeks with the urologists at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center in Tanzania was one of the most formative periods of my residency and I hope every physician at some point has the opportunity to experience the passion and persistence with which healthcare can be delivered in places of differing resources."
Anas Tresh, MD
"My two weeks spent at KCMC was incredibly insightful in seeing how urology was practiced elsewhere from a clinical as well as educational standpoint. It was also very eye opening seeing how resources, environment and climate can play a role into care delivered and pathology seen. I thoroughly enjoyed my time and I'm glad to have had such an opportunity!"
Steve Zhou, MD
"KCMC was an exceptional opportunity to meet healthcare providers with which we have so much in common, and also so much to teach each other. I had a wonderful timing operating with residents from Tanzania, Uganda, and Ethiopia. I also enjoyed learning about their daily lives and interests. It was a perfect exchange of experiences and ideas."
