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Master's Degree in Family Residency |
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DOCS provides university credentialed residency training for physicians serving in
areas of Africa where it has not been possible for them to specialize.
One way to meet the health care challenge in Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) where there is one doctor for approximately 10,000 people is to train physicians in-country. DOCS worked with the University of Goma (Unigom) located near the eastern border of DR Congo to establish the Residency in Family Medicine as a model for education in the region. The curriculum is adapted from one developed by the University of Limpopo (Medunsa) and recognized in sub-Saharan Africa. This credentialed program allows promising young doctors to upgrade their knowledge, interact with physicians worldwide, and to
specialize in Family Medicine without having to leave Africa. |
The program was developed to better equip doctors for the demanding practice of rural primary health care. Even today nearly two out of every three persons in DR Congo lives in a rural area.
The University provides classroom space, faculty offices, and the academic supervision as well as the credentials.
DOCS provides the clinical setting in which Family Medicine Residents may receive supervised experience in patient diagnosis and treatment. Professor Dr. Ahuka Ona Longombe currently serves as the chair of the program for the University and as head of the DOCS Medical Clinic in Goma. In addition to the on-going supervision by Dr. Longombe the students benefit as DOCS physicians also visit periodically to provide clinical education and demonstrate current techniques and practices.
The four year residency program provides instruction in the following areas and their sub-specialties:
• Primary Health Care
• General Surgery
• Internal Medicine |
| • Pediatrics
• Obstetrics/Gynecology
• Radiology/Laboratory |
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• Anesthesia
• Orthopedics
• Medical Ethics |
Volunteer instructors from across the world are recruited to teach students during short term educational trips.
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The curriculum for the Master's Degree in Family Medicine is rigorous and requires each student to
complete rotations in each of the following specialty areas; pediatrics, general surgery and orthopedics,
anesthesia, obstetrics/gynecology, internal medicine, ophthalmology, dentistry, and public health and management.
Christian mentoring is an important component of the residency program and DOCS encourages each resident to give
back to their community. The training also focuses on medical problems specific to the region, with emphasis on
HIV/AIDS, maternal and infant health, and tropical and infectious diseases. A special emphasis is also placed on
conducting relevant research and each student is encouraged to become a life-long learner. |
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Doctors on Call for Service Foundation, Inc.
P.O. BOX 371 • Byron Center, Michigan 49315
Phone (616) 401-2834 • calvin.bremer@docs.org
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