Fellowship in HIV Medicine at CMC Vellore - 2004

[Guest guest]

FIRST BATCH OF FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IN HIV MEDICINE GRADUATES FROM CHRISTIAN

MEDICAL COLLEGE, VELLORE

The first batch of twenty-five secondary hospital doctors of the Fellowship

in HIV Medicine graduated from Christian Medical College, Vellore (CMC) on

October 9, 2003 after successfully qualifying in their theory and practical

examinations for proficiency in HIV care. The training program was a

collaborative effort between CMC, Population Council, India and Open

University Centre for Education in Medicine, UK.

Background to the training program: The training program course was designed to

address the expanding HIV epidemic, the limited availability of HIV care

services, the reluctance of doctors to provide care and the absence of a formal

clinical training program for doctors.

Objectives of the training program: The aims of the program were to: (a) develop

a model of training for secondary hospital doctors which improves their

knowledge and skills in HIV care; ( improve care provided to HIV patients at

their institutions and © develop a network of HIV physicians in South India.

Educational approach: The education approach of the program was a

training-implementation approach. The training component consisted of contact

courses and distance learning through which students improved their knowledge

and skills. The implementation component consisted of guided project work

through which students undertook service development in their hospitals to

improve HIV

care.

Selection: The students were selected on the basis of their experience and

interest in HIV care, the capacity of their institution to undertake HIV care, a

project outline and the administrative support of their institution. The first

batch of 25 students for the Fellowship in HIV Medicine were selected in

December 2002 from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and New Delhi.

They belonged to voluntary hospitals, church related hospitals, non-governmental

organisations and government hospitals.

Course faculty: Eighteen course faculty from 13 departments at CMC conducted the

training.

Course structure: The course consisted of 3 contact programs at CMC of 1-month

duration, distance learning course of 4 months and project work of 6 months

duration.

Contact courses: During the contact courses at Vellore, the students had

hands-on clinical experience in the outpatient and in-patient services,

laboratory practicals, counselling experience and exposure to the community.

They developed their project plans and strengthened the networking within their

group.

Distance course: The distance learning modules were carefully organised to

facilitate active learning through case based excercises, reflection on practice

and constant feedback. The modules consisted of case based activities, reading

and references, and a tutor marked assignment.

Project work: The aim of project work was to establish basic HIV care at the

students’ institutions and improve the quality and utilisation of these

services. The components of basic HIV care were defined as outpatient,

in-patient care, HIV testing, counselling, infection control and staff

education.

A faculty guide at Christian Medical College and a local guide at their own

institution guided the students through their project work. The students

chose their projects based on the local need in their own institutions. At

the beginning of the program about two-thirds of the institutions had HIV

out-patient care and counselling and less than half had in-patient care, HIV

testing, infection control and staff education. The projects were designed to

address these needs. The students were provided a small seed grant to

facilitate the project work at their institution. The CMC project guide

visited each of the hospitals during the project phase.

Course outcomes: At the end of the courses the students had developed the

requisite knowledge and skills for HIV care at their level. All the 25 students

had also completed projects of service development at their institutions which

focused on various components of care including hospital based care, counselling

and testing, infection control and staff education and home based care. They

presented posters of their project work on the poster day of the final contact

session. The graduating batch intends to continue and extend their

projects and strengthen networking within their group.

Next course: The next course will begin on February 2, 2004. The prospectus and

application form may be obtained from Course Coordinator, HIV Physician

training program, Medicine Unit 1 and Infectious Disease, Christian Medical

College, Vellore-632004 E-mail- hivdistancelearning@...

<mailto:hivdistancelearning@...>

The prospectus and application form may also be downloaded from

http://www.cmch-vellore.edu under the topics “College Admissionâ€

The last date for submission of applications is December 15, 2003.

" Anand Zachariah "

E-mail: <zachariah@...>