Transforming medical education in Liberia through an international community of inquiry

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001610
• Publication Date: 2023-03-08T18:48:05Z
• Authors: Kristina Talbert-...; Ibrahim Ajami; Braden Currey; Rachel Galvao; Jerusalem Hadush; Serene Silin Li; Javaughn T. Flowers; Moses Ziah; Desmond Amuh; Mikaela Rabb; Olayinka Stephen ...; Nikole Allen; Marie Martin; Mary Miller; Attila Yaman; Tej Nuthulaganti; Chelsea Plyler; Odell Kumeh; Joseph Sieka; Onyema Ogbuagu; Regan Marsh; Asghar Rastegar; Lawrence Sherman; Z’Sherman Adams; Angela Benson; Bernice Dahn
• Keywords: Capacity Building

A critical component of building capacity in Liberia's physician workforce involves strengthening the country's only medical school, A.M. Dogliotti School Medicine. Beginning 2015, senior health sector stakeholders Liberia invited faculty and staff from U.S. academic institutions non-governmental organizations to partner with them on improving undergraduate education Liberia. Over subsequent six years, members this partnership came together through an iterative, mutual-learning process created what William Torbert et al describe as a "community inquiry," which practitioners researchers pair action inquiry toward evidence-informed practice organizational transformation. Incorporating faculty, practitioners, students U.S., community consistently focused following vision, goals, priorities leadership Liberia, irrespective funding source or institutional affiliation. The work has incorporated multiple mixed methods assessments, stakeholder discussions, strategic planning, collaborative self-reflection, resulting transformation We suggest that approach reported here can serve model for others seeking form sustainable global partnerships