June 2023 Report

ADMINISTRATIVE:

We continue to collaborate with Debbie Ungar at IU to update AMPATH/MAPAS México website so that it can serve as public platform to share / access SOPs and an online Visitor form, among other new features / content.
May 23, 2023: We held our second BUAP-UT Executive Committee meeting This monthly meeting allows BUAP and UT leaders to focus on collaborate strategic guidance and decision-making.
Mexico Project Coordinator: we interviewed four applications and scheduled a second interview for the top candidate for this part-time contract role based in Mexico who will provide essential administrative support for on-the-ground initiatives.

EDUCATION:

May 25, 2023, 6-7:30pm CT seminar. Dra. Laura Gomez of BUAP and Dra. Nelly Salgado de Synder of UT Austin focused on mental health in marginalized communities in and around Puebla and Central Texas. Click here to view the recording.
June 22, 2023 6-7:30pm CT seminar: Dr. Alejandro Morales of BUAP and Dra. Rachel Bowman of UT Austin will focus on maternal health in marginalized communities in and around Puebla and Central Texas. Click here to register.

Our Clinical Team Lead Dr. Becca Cook and Dra. Marta Elba at BUAP to continue to coordinate offering this course in the fall 2023 at BUAP and UT.
Held a small party and handed out certificates with BUAP students. Received really positive feedback on the elective and interest amongst some students for more local engagement/service to address health issues for migrant population here in Puebla.

Global Health Elective: Finalized syllabus per UT Dell Med’s request for change in grading scheme.

RESEARCH:

RIAT & SOPs: We completed the RIAT and continue to complete the relevant SOPs.
Working Groups: Our team continues to support the six Working Groups to meet and plan their community projects, including initiating two new groups – Cardiovascular Disease and Oncology – in anticipation for Puentes 2023.
Puentes October 23 and 24, 2023: We continue to plan for this collaborative research summit.

CARE

Volcano Popo was more active recently, which impacted our Puebla partners and work. While no evacuations were indicated, there was an alert for readiness for evacuation in communities close to the volcano. Also, for about two weeks in late May BUAP (and other local) classes were virtual and everyone stayed inside as much as possible due to air quality.
We were awarded funding for a community-based model for Cancer Prevention and Early Detection, funded by the Astellas Access to Health Initiative, that will start in the Fall of 2023. Currently, we are currently working on administrative steps involved in sub-awards for BUAP and Fundacion Comunitaria de Puebla.
We also were awarded a USD 15,000 grant from UT Center for Health Environment Education and Research (CHEER) to study the health impacts of eco-stove introduction in a rural community. The study protocol has been submitted to UT IRB and we are finalizing submission of the Spanish-version of the protocol for submission to Comite Bioetica at BUAP. We plan to start in August 2023.
Clinical Team Leader Dr Becca Cook continues to serve as the main link with BUAP leadership for any AMPATH Global cross-site initiatives and proposals, this month reviewed Clinton Commitment to Action proposal and GAC Chamas Proposal with BUAP leadership.
Jornada: Due to volcanic activity, the June Jornada was rescheduled to September 6 and 7, 2023 to align with the next BUAP semester.
Pasantes program:

Our Clinical Team Leader continues to teach the pasantes Global Health classes on Fridays. This month we completed a series of modules on Quality Improvement Methods.
Pasantes provided a 4-hour First Aid Workshop for the Health Committee in Colonia Agrarista. Feedback was positive.
Pasantes visited a primary school in San Francsico Xochiteopan to provide nutritional assessments and education with the students, including nutritional screening and counselling for 121 students and age-appropriate health talks.

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