Yale and Clinton Foundation Training Program Awards Certification to Ethiopian Healthcare Professionals

New Haven, Conn. — Researchers at Yale School of Medicine’s Department of Epidemiology & Public Health recently traveled to Ethiopia to award healthcare managers and workers with a Yale certificate for completing a year-long program that featured extensive training and practice in various areas of hospital and healthcare management.

The Professional Development Program is a component of the Ethiopian Hospital Management Initiative (EHMI) initiatied by the Ethiopian Ministry of Health and led by the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative to expand and improve treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS.

“The Program has been a great success building leadership skills among Ethiopian professionals, resulting in real change and improvements in the 14 engaged hospitals,” said Tim Dentry, EHMI Project Director.

Over 80 Ethiopian healthcare professionals from 14 public hospitals, Regional Health Bureaus, and the Federal Ministry of Health participated in the program and its associated trainings. Led by Yale professors, the training taught management skills and techniques that were put to use in order to improve access to, and delivery of, health care services to Ethiopia’s 76 million people.

Following periodic trainings, Ethiopian health care professionals worked in their respective hospitals side-by-side since July with Fellows from the EHMI program to implement management improvements in their hospitals.

During the ceremony issuing Certificates, Professor of Public Health and the EHMI project at Yale, Elizabeth Bradley said, “We are extremely honored to have worked with each of you to build leadership and management skills. You have truly taught us the meaning of “Yichalal!” (We can do it) and we have watched your work unfold and improve hospital care in the country.”

In a country that spends only $6 per person on healthcare and has extensive acute care needs, Bradley said the hospitals are often the place of last resort for many and ensuring that they are as productive and efficient as possible is critical. “Effective management is crucial for a healthcare system limited by resources,” said Bradley. “The skills acquired will be certain to provide greater quality care to patients while ensuring efficient use of scarce resources.”

Following the award ceremony, Bradley and the team received a positive response from participants. “The overall program including training and ongoing support focused on leadership capacity building and problem-solving skills was highly welcome,” Bradley said. “Healthcare professionals in Ethiopia have gained greater confidence and the skills to address the critical needs of their individual hospitals and government organization. The professionals are able to think more critically to solve the problems they face.”

Tedros Adhanon Ghebeysus expressed his vision for the fellows and medical directors. “This year was about experimenting, studying and moving forward,” he said. “Each healthcare professional with their new skills and training began to think outside the box, and try new things. The new skills and confidence acquired will be extremely beneficial as we work towards improving our nation’s healthcare system.”

Kari Hartwig, Assistant Professor of Public Health in the Global Health Division, said, “The Professional Development Program has enabled Yale to offer its skills beyond the classroom to healthcare practitioners in Ethiopia who are both in need and more importantly, enthusiastic to learn. It’s a dynamic challenge and a natural fit for Yale as we expand our work in global health.”

Bradley said the professional development program has led to larger efforts to develop a master’s of hospital administration degree in Ethiopia and create a new profession that can sustain the management capacity in health care that the country will need in the decades to come. During the program, the EHMI also introduced Blueprint for Hospital Management in Ethiopia document. This document is a direct outgrowth of the year’s efforts and quality improvement projects. It will serve as the framework for the second year of the EHMI program addressing eight different hospital systems.

The final training and award ceremony by Yale took place at Ghion Hotel in Addis Ababa June 13-14. Trainers included Bradley and Hartwig, lecturers Martha Dale and Cindy Czaplinski, and Program Managers Josh Pashman and Laura Rowe.

Founded by Charles-Edward Amory Winslow in 1915, the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Yale, is one of the country’s oldest programs in public health. It has played a pivotal role in defining and addressing public health issues and training leaders in public health research, education, and practice. The Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Yale provides leadership to protect and improve the health of the public. Through innovative research, policy analysis, and education that draws upon multidisciplinary scholarship from across the graduate and professional programs at Yale, the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Yale serves local, national, and international communities with its knowledge and expertise.