Location:
Kampala, Uganda
Study Area:
Gynecological cancers
Partner Institutions:
Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Uganda
Funding Sources:
Gwendolyn M. and John A. Kerner, M.D. Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship in Caring for the Underserved Fund
Principal Investigators
Stephanie Ueda, MD (UCSF)
UCSF Investigator Team
Meg Autry, MD
Felicia Lester, MD
Abner Korn, MD
Uganda Investigator Team
Jane Namugga, MD
Anthony Okoth, MD
Josaphat Byamugisha, MD
Judith Ajeani, MD
Carole Nakisige, MD
Jerome Katumba, MD
Juliet Biriyanga, MD
Rosette Katongole, MD
Building Capacity to Advance Gynecologic Cancer Treatment in Uganda
In resource-limited countries such as Uganda, the obstacles to gynecological cancer screening, evaluation, and treatment mean a devastatingly high morbidity for women. Many cancers are advanced by the time of detection and there are few healthcare workers trained in appropriate care and treatment. Since 2011 Dr. Stefanie Ueda, in collaboration with Dr. Meg Autry and Dr. Felicia Lester, has been training physicians and residents at the Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala. The group has pioneered a program aimed at advancing gynecologic cancer care and surgical training at Mulago and Makerere University in an effort to treat the 80-100 patients seen on the oncology ward each week.
Creating a Sustainable Impact through Training
Drs. Ueda, Autry, and Lester are working to leave a sustainable impact on East African gynecological treatment by training Ugandan faculty and early career physicians from both Uganda and UCSF. The team trains OB-GYN faculty at the largest medical school and public hospital in the region. There the group has introduced an outpatient oncology and colposcopy clinic, weekly ward rounds, and a multidisciplinary tumor board. In addition, Dr. Ueda is overseeing the career development of the first formally trained gynecologic oncologist in Uganda. Moreover, a collaborative exchange has been built between UCSF and Makerere in which third-year UCSF OB-GYN residents rotate at Mulago for four weeks. Beyond implementing training, Dr. Ueda is helping to establish widespread cervical cancer screening and improved laparoscopic and surgical capabilities.
Publications:
On-Job Surgical Training by Visiting Gynecologic Oncologists at Mulago National Hospital in Uganda – Consortium of Universities for Global Health Conference 2016
