UNC-SOM in Malawi Summer Research and the Carolina Covenant/ Medical Horizons Fellowship

Research with UNC Project Malawi UNC Project has been working in Malawi for over 20 years – it is a collaboration between UNC, the Malawian Ministry of Health and Kamuzu Central Hospital. The relationship includes UNC staff going to Malawi and training Malawians in Malawi, supporting their education outside the country.

Working at UNC Project Has a building with clinic rooms for patients, a pharmacy, a microbiology lab, a conference room for educational events and office space, developing a pathology lab, there are auxiliary labs outside the hospital and many research projects You will be working alongside Malawian colleagues, other year- round students in Lilongwe Day-to-day: working with staff on existing projects, time in the hospital depending on the project, also collaboration with the Lighthouse, outpatient HIV treatment center in Malawi. Infectious Disease department Wednesday and Friday conferences on Skype. Research opportunities- working with Irving and Mina identify project Need to be flexible because plans will change and the project you identify may change over time depending on the situation

UNC-Project Amblessed in front of the UNC Project Building, the Tidziwe Center

Other UNC Project Malawi Research Details… Funding is only provided for Carolina Covenant program, need to apply yourself Different sources (IDSA, ASTMH, Carolina Medical Student Research Program, etc) Length: approximately 2 months, three weeks for Carolina Covenant Applications will go out around October, interview and filling out application – decisions in November Different opportunities with research, shadowing, laboratory (lots of HIV, TB, malaria work) – Infectious Disease is a very strong department at UNC and it is one of the leaders in AIDS research in the world – for instance the HPTN 052 study looking at discordant couples and BAN study of the prevention of mother to child transmission have both made headlines in the last few years. Typically students will present their summer research at the John B. Graham Research Day the following January

Carolina Covenant/ UNC Medical Horizons Fellowship One MS1 and one Undergraduate Student interested in a career in medicine. Travel to Malawi to 4 weeks with the Department of Surgery. Funded by the Medical Alumni Association- applications due in January(?) link opens in December. Provide clinical care to Malawian patients while mentoring an undergraduate student and working closely with UNC Surgery Faculty.

What did we do? Lots of OR time, medical student may assist. Rounding with attendings and interns. Working with the Burn Unit. Freedom from Fistula Foundation Pediatric Oncology Ward

Burn Unit

In the “Operating Theatre”

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We had fun outside the hospital, too…

Safari

Contact Us! Questions: Carolina Covenant: Check out Allie’s blog! It has about 1,000 pictures on it that didn’t make it on the Powerpoint.