A program to provide Iraqi medical professionals exposure to Western-style clinical medicine was recognized at a ceremony at the Ibn Sina Hospital in the International Zone, May 22.
The Medical Partnership Program is a three week training course designed to partner U.S. and Iraqi medical professionals in a clinical environment. The goal is to foster goodwill and partnership between the coalition and Iraqi medical professionals through collaboration in-patient care in a coalition facility.
Through the program, Iraqi military and civilian medical professionals are paired with coalition medical providers to expose them to Western-style clinical medicine, offer understanding of the essential nature of health professionals working and communicating together as a team in providing optimal patient care, demonstrate hospital administration and logistics techniques, and learn training techniques for potential incorporation into Iraqi health professional education.
U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, commanding general, Multi-National Security Transition Command — Iraq spoke to the latest class of doctors.
"This is a great program," Helmick said. "We are partnering with Iraqi soldiers and civilians in the medical field to build capabilities, not dependency."
He then presented the group with a command coin. "This coin has the word 'excellence' on it. I hope you will remember the things you have learned here and always strive for excellence."
Iraqi Brig. Gen. Fouad, director of operations, Minister of Defense also spoke to the group.
"This is a good opportunity to learn from our coalition partners," Fouad said. "Together with the knowledge and skills you already posses take what you have learned here and help the people of Iraq."
U.S. Army Col. Stephen Salerno, director, MNSTC-I Health Affairs played a key role in establishing the program. "There is a real hunger among Iraqi health providers for professional exchange opportunities," he said. "The Iraqi medical community was very isolated in the later days of the prior regime and due to the security situation. Now that the environment is more secure, the Iraqis are very eager to expand partnership efforts."
The partnership program is a joint effort between MNSTC-I Health Affairs, Multi-National Corps—Iraq and Multi-National Force-Iraq, to develop professional relationships between health professionals in the Iraqi Ministries of Defense, Interior and Health. The 10th Combat Support Hospital is one of the largest training sites of the program.
This is the second partnership class in 2009.
According to Salerno, training in MNC-I facilities is part of a three step approach to enhance Iraqi medical capability.
"In addition to training in coalition facilities, MNSTC-I is also supporting a new Baghdad Medical Institute for the Security Ministries in Medical City to expand the number of medical courses taught by the Iraqi military and to take advantage of nearby Ministry of Health expertise," he said. "Furthermore, we are funding over 20 Iraqi health professionals to attend classes and clinical observerships in the U.S. over the next 18 months."
| Date Taken: | 05.22.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 05.24.2009 00:13 |
| Story ID: | 34015 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 197 |
| Downloads: | 183 |
This work, Iraqi-U.S. Medical Partnership Program Recognized, by Van Williams, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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