Summer 2014 Ethiopian Adventure: Teaching at the Project Mercy Health Science College

PMHSC Skills/Faculty Development Course--25-26 June 2014

The Project Mercy Health Science College

With Registrar Missay and Midwife Mamush--both EXCELLENT Teachers!!

We had the great pleasure of working with the Project Mercy Health Science College (PMHSC) faculty this week. Breaking the ice was easy with Dr. Michael’s ice-breaker: “share your most memorable delivery, most memorable teacher, &/or your most memorable student.” In ping-pong fashion, more than a dozen stories and recollections were shared, some with levity, others with a more serious tone. We are all shaped by the people and experiences in our lives, and for the group assembled at PMHSC, the common ties that bind were quickly revealed.

Ato Jiregna (School Dean) & Missay (Registrar)

Missay and Dr. Michael checking out a glass vacuum apparatus

Dr. Michael

Conducting a discussion on Faculty Development

From well-lit classrooms to a large open study area with desks, library shelves filling with books, and a wall lined with new computers, the hallmark of the college is the skills lab set up to simulate clinical situations the nurse midwife students will face. Its greatest treasure, of course, is the faculty that has been recruited to lead and serve the first class of the Project Mercy Health Science College. From the welcoming Dean, Ato Jirenga, to the skillful Registrar, a scrub nurse nicknamed Missay, the counselor Hiwot, and instructors Mamush and Lydia, conversation flowed easily, and we were eager to get underway with the short faculty & skills development course we had planned. The faculty also includes a librarian passionate about literacy and a rotation coordinator, Mohammud.

The library

Study area

There is a long line of desks with computers along this wall.

After introductions and our ice breaker, we launched the course with a discussion on faculty development. This was more of an overview of topics that could be explored further on future collaborative sessions. Thank you to Dr. Michael for leading this compelling discussion! A buna and soda break offered a nice segueway to the first skills lab session—led by Dr. Dineen and Nurse Isabella—on shoulder dystocia. This dynamic duo led a discussion and hands-on presentation that I’m certain will always be remembered by all! Dr. Dineen and I have taught for many years together, and I daresay Nurse Isabella is now her co-instructor of choice! What a delight to watch them in action!!

Dr. Dineen delivers a brief lecture

Followed by hands-on demonstration…

All participants are fully engaged in this interactive workshop

Dr. Zoe facilitates a workstation on shoulder dystocia.

We presented a total of 5 skills/workshop topics. In addition to shoulder dystocia, we covered postpartum hemorrhage (yours truly), vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery (Dr. Zoe), perineal laceration repair (Dr. Michael), and Helping Babies Breathe (HBB). HBB was led by Dr. Randy, who attended a “Master Trainer” course at UCDavis in preparation for this trip. Dr. Randy was joined by Dr. Rachel (a second year medicine/pediatrics resident) in teaching the content and demonstrating the primary skills that can ultimately save babies’ lives. In true master trainer fashion, Dr. Randy creatively thought of a way to include my inquisitive son William into the workshop. What a pleasure to have such a committed group of teachers and clinicians working together!! The feedback we received was unaminously positive, particularly the opportunity to put into practice the “theory” of knowledge learned via hands-on workstations.

Talk on Postpartum hemorrhage

Followed by hands-on skills station.

Here, Midwife Instructor Mamush discusses managing the third stage of labor

Dr. Zoe discusses perineal laceration repair

Followed by hands-on demonstration by Dr. Michael

Dr. Randy and Dr. Rachel prepare for Helping Babies Breathe workshop

Dr. Rachel is assisted by William.

Project Mercy high school students, Yeshi and Salem, who came to deliver snacks, observe.

Dr. Randy testing William on newborn resuscitation.

Warm, dry, stimulate!

Hands on workstation

Dr. Rachel adeptly demonstrates newborn resuscitation

As the Lord wills, our team, or teams like ours, will be able to return and work again with the faculty and directly with the nurse midwife students as they matriculate. We are thankful to Project Mercy for giving us the opportunity to be the first group to conduct formal training at their Health Science College!