February 2024 Report

AMPATH Kenya:

Spring Kenya program: 24 travelers including students, faculty, residents, and fellows all proceeding through pre-departure orientation.
UT will host two Moi medical students August 12-September 20

ADMINISTRATIVE:

BUAP-UT Executive Committee monthly meeting: BUAP and UT leaders continue to meet monthly to focus on collaborate strategic guidance and decision-making.
UT and INSP MOU has been signed in both English and Spanish.

Title VI: faculty international travel grant: received the award letter to use the funds.

- Agreed how to complete monthly financials. (Including that at the beginning of Feb, they’ll share Astellas financials to date through Jan 31 – for the Astellas report).
- FCP checking to see if they can have a bank account in USD.

EDUCATION:

Monthly seminars:
- o January 25, 2024 5-6:30pm CT Dra. Karina de la Rosa López of BUAP and Dr. Steven Taylor of UT focused on diabetic emergencies. Click here to view the recording.
- o February 22, 2024 5-6:30pm CT Dr. Flor Lucia Morales Morales of BUAP and Dr. Carlos Mery will focus on pediatric cardiology. Click here to register.
- o March 21, 2024 6-7:30pm CT Dr. Jaime Justo Janeiro of BUAP and Dr. Michelle Lubetzky of UT will focus on kidney transplants. Click here to register.

Grand Rounds: next event to come at end of March, details to be shared soon.
Migrant Health Global Virtual Exchange (GVE) will officially be offered with both UT and BUAP students enrolled in the course. First BUAP session (they have more required hours) Tuesday February 6th. First joint class February 20th. Classes will be February to April Tuesdays and Thursdays 10-11am Mexico time (after the March 10th time change, 11am-12pm Austin time).

RESEARCH:

IRB Meeting: Rico, Becca, Bill, and Beth met with UT IRB representatives Anne Burke, Kristin Crabtree, and Christina Wright to gain their support and insight for navigating bilateral research.

SOPs: We continue to complete the relevant SOPs.
Working Groups: Our team continues to support the eight Working Groups to meet and plan their community projects.
AMBIA Round 3 Seed Grants: 5 grant applications have been reviewed by the Review Committee, which will meet end of February to release award announcements in March.

CARE:

Astellas:
o January 25 and 26 Completed promotor(a) (community health worker) training workshop on Cervical Cancer Prevention and Screening in our two rural communities with a total of 24 promotor(a)s in attendance.
o Continuing to develop our training and mentorship strategies in light of diversity of age and literacy.
o Will complete Breast Cancer workshop in February.
o Continue weekly coordination meetings with Fundación Comunitaria de Puebla (FCP/FMG) (community-based partners), 1/29/2024 joined FCP board of directors meeting at their invitation to provide update on recent AMPATH/MAPAS community collaborations.
Emergency Medicine Team: Tim Ruttan and Becca have been facilitating introductions/ partnership exploration from Emergency Medicine Team from UVA with BUAP. Seems likely that 2 faculty + 1 resident will visit in April for first visit.
National Board of Medical Educators (NBME) opportunity: Shared with Dr. Luis and Dra Lis last week. Will follow-up how/if they need support.

Orientation/onboarding in Puebla: 1 new pasante assigned to Becca & 2 new pasantes assigned to Marta Elba with AMPATH/MAPAS “plazas”/assignments (primarily working on Diabetes project but will also help with health outreaches). As of this cycle, all pasantes with university plazas are expected to participate in 4 days of health outreach during their social service year, so working with Social Service Coordinator on this.
BUAP Outreach: BUAP wide focus on extending university outreach this year. First BUAP-wide Jornada February 12th. Becca has been part of several operational planning meetings and general support. Ideal for us to understand the vision, context, plan, and expectations for AMPATH (e.g., how many outreaches/year, potential longitudinal follow-up with communities, etc).
BUAP’s “La BUAP Cerca de Tí” / The BUAP Near You campaign: Our Clinic Team Lead, Mexico Program Coordinator, and on-the-ground team has been involved in BUAP’s campaign “to contribute to sustainable development of the population, especially in the most vulnerable groups.” This is the BUAP President’s Facebook post.

In February 12, 2024 the AMPATH/MAPAS México Clinical Team helped lead the school of medicine team of 38 faculty, pasantes, and students from medicine, nutrition, and physical therapy in a one-day multisectoral health outreach event in a junta auxiliar in the southern part of the city of Puebla with a population of ~7000. The school of medicine team provided medicine consultations for adults (predominance of NCDs) and children, administered a pharmacy with medicines donated by members of the medical school community (which were carefully reviewed and inventoried prior by the AMPATH/MAPAS clinical team), and offered physical therapy and nutrition consults. We collaborated closely with the school of nursing who offered a variety of preventive services including breast and cervical cancer screening, health education in sexual and reproductive health, and a station to holistically assess elderly patients.

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