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Centre for International Child Health

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CICH Opportunities & Collaborations

Training opportunities

Master of Medicine

Advanced Medical Science (AMS)

Master of Applied Epidemiology (MAE)

Fellowship in International Child Health

Registrar Rotations

Collaborations

Overview

At CICH we aim to provide further education and training into research methods to assist regional counterparts to undertake appropriate research in their own environment. Postgraduate training in child health and research is available for international and Australian child health professionals. Contact us to inquire about these opportunities.

Training Opportunities

CICH has a variety of training opportunities for students, post-graduate trainees and paediatricians from overseas. 

Master of Medicine

The University of Melbourne Master of Medicine (Paediatrics, by Research) Program is an academic teaching program.  Graduates develop expertise in research methods and epidemiology as it relates to paediatrics and child health, particularly relevant to developing countries.   Students conduct research in a selected area of child health, ideally on a research topic of relevance to their home country, and preferably using research data collected from their institution in a planned research project the year before they come to Melbourne.   There are several research themes available and these include clinical research, medical education, evidence-based medicine, public health and quality improvement.  Examples of recent and current Master of Medicine research projects include a study of children with pneumonia from Bangladesh, an evaluation of an IMCI program in Aceh, Indonesia after the south-Asian tsunami, a long-term study of the outcome of asthma in children admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care unit in Melbourne, and a study of infectious disease morbidity from a hospital in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Advanced Medical Science

CICH offers AMS years for medical students.  Examples of recent projects include studies of pneumonia in Tonga, an evaluation of the impact of improved oxygen systems in Papua New Guinea, and the burden of Hib disease in Malasia.

Master of Applied Epidemiology (through Australian National University)

CICH offers placements for MAE students from the ANU.  Students conduct research projects on disease surveillance, data-set analysis, and epidemiology, on topics related to international child health.

Fellow in international child health

There is much enthusiasm, sincerity and goodwill among registrars; however the pathways for getting involved in international health are few.   We need to create opportunities for doctors, nurses and other health professionals from Australia to make substantial contributions to global health on an ongoing basis, as a core part of their career, not just for a couple of years when they are young.  In 2007 we have created a position with the Centre for International Child Health, as the International Child Health Fellow.  The Fellow's position will include contributing to and learning from various projects that are supporting child health in countries in the region where CICH is working, and contribute to work the Centre does in collaboration with WHO and child health institutions.  The Fellow would develop experience and an understanding of global and national child health agencies, ministries of health and other child health institutions, and of the priorities of child health research, teaching and development in countries where resources are limited.  Most of the work could be done in Melbourne, but the Fellow will travel sometime overseas from several weeks, up to 3 months, depending on the role.

Registrar rotation to Honiara, Solomon Islands

The Centre for International Child Health has been collaborating with the paediatric services in the Solomon Islands since 2001.  A position is available for a registrar from RCH to spend 3-6 months in the Solomon Islands.  The visiting registrar's position is mostly a clinical one, based at Honiara National Referral Hospital, assisting the paediatricians and other Solomon Islands registrars.  There is also scope for teaching and being involved in the broader aspects of the Solomon Islands Child Health program, including opportunities to travel to outlying provinces to support paediatric services in remote hospitals.  It is a great opportunity to understand the difficulties of delivering care in environments where resources are very limited.  Two paediatricians in Solomon Islands provide day-to-day supervision, and regular remote communication and supervision is available from CICH. The RACP may accredit this time if an application is made.  Accommodation is provided by the hospital.

Collaborations

The Centre for International Child Health aims to create collaborations with local and regional partners. Current collaborations include:

 

 

Last Updated 03-Mar-2009. Authorised by: Professor Kim Mulholland. Enquiries: Amanda O'Brien.
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