The work on the L&D/Surgery center continues in Masindi.  As the construction continues so does the anticipation from the community.  The clinic is seeing more and more pregnant women as the community recognizes that maternity services will be available shortly.  We are excited about the construction progress being made.

Currently the construction team is in the process of finishing the construction of the walls and are scheduled to start the roofing process middle of next week.  We will keep you all updated on our progress here!  Phase 3 of the project is an exciting time for the PMI Uganda staff and the community of Masindi, and we look forward to sharing this time with all of you.  Thank you so much for your continued support and for making it possible for PMI Uganda to make a difference in so many lives!

Michael O’Neal, PMI Project Director

We are very pleased to announce that Newman Lawrence has joined the PMI staff team and will be our new Project Manager in Masindi, Uganda. Newman and his wife Trish will be departing the US on April 15th to begin a commitment of 18-24 months on site in Masindi.

In June Michael O’Neal and his wife Amanda will be returning to the United States where Michael will stay on staff with PMI as Director of International Projects. In that role Michael will oversee the development of future projects for PMI and offer his expertise in international development as we expand across the globe.

As a result of Michael’s transition, Newman will step in to provide our pilot project in Masindi with all necessary oversight as we seek to continue enhancing our health impact in the region. Newman’s management experience, work ethic and personality will all be huge assets to the team in Masindi.

As for Trish, this won’t be her first experience in Uganda! Trish was part of the August 2011 team where she was able to use her nursing training for the benefit of people in need. As she returns to Masindi for a more extended stay, she is excited to serve in the Masindi Kitara Health Center, which will be a big support to our team there.

We are excited about all the changes on the horizon for PMI and especially thrilled to add such wonderful people as Newman and Trish to our team!

It is with both great remorse and anticipation that we announce the end of an era for Palmetto Medical Initiative. Marianne Carpenter, who has served among may other roles as our Director of Volunteers, will be leaving us in June of this year as she and her husband Dr. Cody Carpenter  will move to Charlotte, North Carolina. To say she will be missed is an understatement and she is and will always remain one of the most critical people to the growth and success of PMI through these first several years. Thankfully, we have several months left to schedule a farewell party fitting for someone who has invested so much of themselves in helping other people. We will miss you, Marianne!

As a result of her transition, PMI is searching for the next Director of Volunteers. Below you will find a full description of that role along with instructions on how to apply for the position.

All applications must be received by Wednesday, February 15th. Please dont hesitate to contact us with any questions you have related to the position at info@palmettomedical.org.

_______________________________________

Palmetto Medical Initiative

Role: Director of Volunteers

Location: Charleston, South Carolina

Salary: $35,000 – $40,000

Benefits: Health Insurance, Matching Retirement Program, and Paid Vacation

Start Date: April 15, 2012

About Palmetto Medical Initiative

Palmetto Medical Initiative is a rapidly growing grass-roots non-profit organization that exists to provide sustainable, quality health care to developing nations while increasing accessibility to medical missions for those with a desire to make a difference.

Since March 2009 Palmetto Medical Initiative has provided medical care to more than 27,000 patients in Uganda. Our pilot project in Masindi, Uganda is currently staffed by 30 medical and administrative professionals and is functioning at greater than 92% operational sustainability.

About the Director of Volunteers

The Director of Volunteers is responsible for coordinating all engagement opportunities, recruiting efforts and communication with existing and potential PMI volunteers. The focus of this position is to build and maintain a strong volunteer base to support the organization in program efforts and financial partnership. The person in this position should be highly relational, skilled in project management and event planning, possess excellent communication skills and be a proven team leader.

Requirements

• 4 Year Bachelor Degree
• Masters Degree in relevant field preferred
• Ability to identify strategic partners
• Proven ability to develop strong partnerships at the individual and corporate level
• Strong relational competencies
• Strong organizational competencies
• Excellent team building and leadership skills
• Experience with developing and implementing trainings
• Excellent written and communication skills
• Ability to work cross-culturally and display cultural sensitivity
• Ability to travel internationally up to 4 weeks per year
• Availability to work weekends (most trainings are performed on weekends)
• Flexibility and adaptability

Responsibilities

Primary

• Actively recruit new volunteers from strategic locations including universities, churches, other non-profit organizations
• Schedule three speaking opportunities per month to increase awareness about the organization
• Develop creative marketing tools and concepts to recruit at the national and local level
• Develop volunteer and leadership trainings to be conducted locally and web-based interactive training for out-of-state volunteers
• Provide logistical support and planning for all short-term mission trips
• Work alongside Director of International Projects to strategically align short-term mission experiences with the long-term goals of each project
• Responsible for financial management of volunteer mission experiences and all associated income and expenses
• Work closely with Administrative Assistant to ensure daily operations are running smoothly

Secondary

• Coordinate long-term volunteer opportunities for interested volunteers
• Develop and maintain an excellent communication strategy for new and existing volunteers
• Coordinate annual volunteer reunion event in Charleston, South Carolina
• Coordinate annual donor event to expand the organization’s network and financial support

If you are interested in this position and meet the requirements stated above please submit a cover letter and resume to info@palmettomedical.org.

MUSC Global Health Certificate
Spring Course – GH 702: Tropical Infectious Diseases

Course Instructors: Dr. Preston Church and Dr. Terry Dixon

Start Date: January 2012

The Field of Global Health
Global health refers to health issues that transcend national boundaries.  As the world population becomes more mobile and diverse, maintaining a healthy domestic population becomes increasingly challenging and requires that all healthcare providers have greater knowledge of diseases that have typically occurred in remote geographical regions.  The Certificate in Global Health provides students and health care professionals with cross-cultural sensitivity and the interdisciplinary skills necessary to address health challenges brought on by today’s global environment.

Eligibility 
The Certificate in Global Health in the College of Graduate Studies is open to all full-time students enrolled in a degree program in any of the six colleges as well as MUSC trainees, faculty, and staff.  The program is designed to provide an understanding of critical health issues worldwide and ways to address or solve them.

Program Description
The 10-credit certificate program is designed to prepare students for involvement in global health in both local and international settings. Upon successful completion of program requirements, students will receive a certificate of completion, which will be included on the student’s official MUSC transcript.

Tuition: $541 per credit hour for in-state students or $1352.50 per course

Courses

1. Intro Course: Topics in Global Health  (Fall 2011)
2. Tropical Infectious Diseases (Spring 2012)
3. Global Health Epidemiology and Policy (Fall 2012)
4. Interprofessional Perspectives in Global Health with optional field study (Spring 2013) The field experience must be related to global health but can be based locally, nationally or internationally.

Objectives

1. Gain an understanding of global health with an emphasis on the prevailing chronic and infectious diseases and their global pattern of distribution
2. Become familiar with the essential principles of epidemiology that are applied in global health
3. Understand the relationship between development and health
4. Understand the relationship between political and cultural processes and health
5. Become familiar with global and local strategies currently being used to address health inequities and the global burden of disease
6. Gain exposure to different health care systems
7. Understand the basics of how to plan, design and evaluate the effectiveness of a community-based program to address a specific health problem or health disparity

 

To apply:  http://www.musc.edu/em/records/forms/non-degree_app.pdf

A strange disease (Nodding disease) has broken out in Northern and North Eastern Uganda, and over two thousand people have already been affected. This is the disease that was eradicated in the colonial times and it’s reemergence presents a big health dilemma not only for Uganda, but for the entire world.  The Ugandan Ministry of Health and World Health Organization have identified PMI Masindi clinic as a key strategic partner in the fight against this disease. This is due to our proximity to the affected areas and our flexibility to adjust to new and unique conditions. Under this arrangement, our medical staff will be trained and equipped with all the necessary skills to identify those affected, give the first line of treatment and then refer.

This partnership underlines our commitment to playing a key role in increasing accessibility and affordability of quality health care services to those in need and further raises the morale of our staffs as they are presented with unique situations in their careers.

Thanks and let’s share again next week.

Patrick

In November 2011, PMI had the chance to partner with an amazing organization based out of Wilmington, NC called Mission Ready.

About Mission Ready: Inspired by the nurses, clinical staff and physicians who regularly travel around the world to help those who desperately need their skill, New Hanover Regional Medical Center started New Hanover Regional Medical Center Mission Ready.  Through this program, the hospital collects and inventories supplies that can’t be used in the United States, because they have passed the manufacturer’s expiration date or were part of a package that was opened, but never used.  Clean and far superior to what’s available in developing countries; these supplies would be thrown away here, but could save a life elsewhere. 

New Hanover Regional Medical Center stores and inventories Mission Ready supplies in a secure warehouse area.  When large quantities are collected, they are boxed and palletized so they are ready to be shipped to countries with medical facilities in need.

Read more about the organization here: http://www.nhrmc.org/missionready

In just a few weeks, Mission Ready had packed an entire container full of medical supplies and equipment to send to the Masindi Kitara Medical Center on behalf of PMI. Mission Ready staff worked tirelessly to get everything packed up in time and then Kuhn+Nagel helped us coordinate shipping. The container includes “… a very full 40 foot container. We’re including 4 non-electrical beds, an exam table with stirrups for OB, a crib, 25 IV poles, and 4 recliner chairs as well as 1 recliner with an attached feeding tray for debilitated patients”, in addition to many more medical supplies!

We are so excited for the supplies to reach the Masindi Kitara Medical Center! The container is currently en route to arrive in Mombassa, Kenya on January 14th, before continuing on to to Masindi, Uganda. A big THANK YOU to Ted Winneberger, his Mission Ready staff and Steve Posson of Kuhn+Nagel for coordinating the entire project. We are so thankful for your tireless work and support and we will be sure to post pictures when the container arrives in Masindi!

See below for several pics of container loading at Mission Ready:

Happy New year!

PMI

Rachael Alinaitwe is the first intern Doctor from Uganda to work withMasindi Kitara Medical Centre. While we have had the opportunity to share with many Interns from the US, it has been difficult to attract Ugandan Interns because of lack of a surgical theatre and maternity where they get to practice more than the ordinary Out Patient Department  and Inpatient only.Recheal’s coming is a huge blessing to us as it has opened our gates for other medical interns from Ugandan Universities.Also,the progress on the construction of labor and surgical theatre,has excited many student doctors who have already made formal  requests to do their internship at MKMC.

We are very happy to offer Ugandan student Doctors an opportunity to advance knowledge and directly   impact on the local communities. This will for sure guarantee the sustainability of our short and long term achievements among all the stakeholders in the health sector in Uganda.

In the above photograph, Rechael and Alex are working on the Ultra Sound Scan.

Thanks so much Rachael for your dedication and commitment to the people of Masindi.

Till next week,

Patrick

Our friend Erin wrote this article about PMI for In Touch Ministries magazine that just went out to more than one million homes around the United States. Thank you to Erin for telling the PMI story so beautifully. Check out the web version here: http://www.intouch.org/magazine/content/topic/keep_your_eyes_open

We are so thankful to all those who have responded to our request for support on the completion of the labor and delivery center. Many of you have given generously and we have made great strides toward our goal of fully funding this phase by the end of the calendar year. However, we are still short of our goal and we need your help!

We hope you will consider making a year-end donation to partner with us in this critical phase. You will see below that the foundation for this building is already in place and our crews are working hard to make sure that the facility is ready to start serving families by late spring.

If you would like to join us in this opportunity you can give online at our website (www.palmettomedical.org), by check to P.O. Box 542 Charleston, SC 29412 or we can arrange to take your gift of stock this year.

All checks should be dated and post marked 12/31/2011 or prior in order to receive credit for the 2011 tax year. If you are interested in making a gift of stock please contact us at info@palmettomedical.org and we will assist you in that process.

Thanks again for your faithful support of PMI! We greatly value your partnership.

Thanks to our friends at Mission Ready, we have a full container of medical equipment on the way to Masindi! The equipment will be used to outfit the new labor and delivery center and even includes a brand new ultrasound machine.

Thanks again to Ted Winneberger and the great team at Mission Ready for their support!