The 4th Annual Medical Research and Mentorship Symposium
Addressing Research Gaps Through Strengthening Mentorship, Health Systems and Capacity in Africa.
18th - 19th, October 2022 - Virtual/Lusaka, Zambia.
The 4th Medical Research and Career Mentorship Symposium is an annual event held to promote research among medical students and young doctors who are the future of the health system. This symposium is hosted in collaboration by the following organizations: Pan-African Organization for Health Education and Research (POHER), Copperbelt University School of Medicine (CBUSOM), Young Emerging Scientists Zambia (YESZambia) and Women in Nuclear Zambia (WiNZambia).
The symposium also emphasizes the importance of mentorship and provides information on the various career paths in Medicine.
The theme for this year symposium is: Addressing Research Gaps Through Strengthening Mentorship, Health Systems and Capacity in Africa. It will be held on the 18th-19th of October 2022 as a hybrid event. Physical attendance will be in Lusaka, Zambia.
Program
Tuesday 18th October 2022
7:30 am - Doors open
8:00 am - Welcome Remarks
8:10 – 8:50 am - Dr Patricia Shinondo
Pediatric Surgeon, Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital, Zambia Vice President, Zambia Medical Association
Topic: The state of health research in Africa: Current challenges, solutions, and opportunities.
BREAK
08:50 –10:15 am Oral Abstract Presentations
10:30 – 12:00 pm Oral Abstract Presentations
LUNCH
1:00 – 1:30 pm - Professor Nazik Hammad
Professor, Division of Medical Oncology, Queen's University, Kingston Health Science Center, Ontario, Canada.
Topic: Mentorship and Mentorship opportunities - Choosing a Mentor
1:30 – 2:00 pm - Professor Ruanne Barnabas
Chief Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA
Topic: Translating research into policy advancements
2:00 – 2:30 pm - Dr Emilia Marsden
Pediatrician | Managing Director Pendleton Family Practice, Lusaka, Zambia
Topic: Getting started in private practice - the do’s and don'ts
Break
2:45 – 3:45 pm Oral Abstract Presentations
3:45 – 5:00 pm Closing Remarks. Poster Session and Reception.
Wednesday 19th October 2022
7:30 am Doors open
8:00 am Welcome Remarks
8:00 – 8:50 am - Dr Miriam Mutebi
AORTIC President-Elect, Consultant Breast Surgical Oncologist and Assistant Professor, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
Topic: Advancing Gender Equity in Academia: Challenges, Strategies, and Institutional Change
BREAK
08:50 –10:15 am Oral Abstract Presentations
10:30 – 12:00 pm Oral Abstract Presentations
LUNCH
1:00 – 1:40 pm - Dr Naeem Dalal
Psychiatrist, University Teaching Hospital, Zambia | Public Health Chairperson, Zambia Medical Association
Topic: Mental Health in Medical School
1:40 – 2:20 pm - Olive Strachan MBE
CEO, Olive Strachan Consultancy
Topic: The Power of You – Identifying your strengths and getting started in achieving your goals
BREAK
2:30 – 3:30 pm Oral Abstract Presentations
3:30 – 5:00 pm Award Ceremony and Closing Remarks
Registration
Faculty
Dr. Ruanne Barnabas is a South African physician-scientist and the Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).
Over the last 15 years, her research has focused on interventions for HIV and STD treatment and prevention and, more recently, on COVID-19 prevention.
She is particularly interested in novel approaches that increase access to services.
She has led clinical trials with companion health economic modeling to assess interventions' potential health and economic impact. For example, the Delivery Optimization for Antiretroviral therapy (DO ART) Study evaluated the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of decentralized, community-based ART initiation compared to standard clinic-based care. She also leads work assessing innovative strategies to increase access to care, including lottery incentives, home delivery, and ART monitoring. She is the Principal Investigator of the KEN SHE Study to assess the impact of single-dose human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in Kenya. Recently, her work has extended to COVID-19 prevention within households. Her work aims to identify effective and scalable HIV, HPV, and infectious disease treatment and prevention strategies to increase access across diverse communities and promote equity in health.
In addition to leading clinical trials and companion health economic modeling as an independently funded investigator, she also serves as an advisor to the World Health Organization and UNAIDS on cervical cancer elimination and treatment and prevention of HIV. She is on the planning committee for the AIDS 2022 conference. She was honored as a Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America in 2020.
Dr. Barnabas graduated from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, where she received her medical degree. She received her research doctorate in medicine and clinical epidemiology from the University of Oxford, where she was a Rhodes Scholar. She completed her residency in South Africa and her fellowship in Infectious Diseases at the University of Washington, where she joined the faculty and was promoted to Professor of Global Health and Medicine before joining MGH in January 2022.
Call for Abstracts
Submit using this link: https://bit.ly/3bPM8aA
Scientific abstracts and case reports are invited for oral or poster presentation from medical students and recent medical graduates in Africa.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
1. Must be registered for the symposium
2. Must be registered at an African Medical Institution as a medical student
OR must have graduated from an African Medical Institution in 2021 or 2022
(If you do not fall within either category but believe you may be eligible, please fill in the section on the form and your submission will assessed on a case-by-case basis)
3. The PRESENTING AUTHOR needs to be the same as the CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
IMPORTANT DEADLINES
Submission Deadline: 17 September, 2022
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Submit for a chance to present in-person or virtually.
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Best written submissions eligible for awards and cash prizes.
All authors will be notified by late September 2022 regarding the status of their submitted abstract.
You can find guidelines for submission and apply here: https://bit.ly/3bPM8aA