| Global Health Scholars in Emergency Medicine |
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                                           01/43     Welcome Welcome! Vanderbilt's Department of Emergency Medicine with the support of a grant from Hope Through Healing Hands is proud to announce the Global Health Scholars Program. This program provides any interested Vanderbilt resident or fellow the opportunity to teach and provide clinical care in Georgetown, Guyana over a 4-8 week period. This is a great opportunity for residents who enjoy supervising junior physicians, lecturing on the core concepts of emergency medicine, and for those who want to expand their knowledge of tropical medicine in a beautiful, South American English-speaking country with a Caribbean climate! Residents from other emergency medicine residency programs are invited to contact us if you are interested in participating in our Guyana program. This will be done through the Georgetown Public Hospital but our faculty provide on-site supervision and we can help with the logistical details. We are excited to offer this unique opportunity and look forward to hearing from you. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. Sincerely, Office phone: 615-936-0093 E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Global Health Scholars Program Background Global Health Scholars spend 4-8 weeks at the Georgetown Public Hospital as an integral part of this emergency medicine training program. Global Health Scholars work with both Vanderbilt and Guyanese faculty in supervising junior residents, teaching the core curriculum of emergency medicine, and expanding their knowledge of tropical medicine. Responsibilities Global Health Scholars will have a combination of clinical (four 8 hour shifts per week) and didactic (1 lecture per week) responsibilities while working closely with Vanderbilt and Guyanese faculty in a supervisory role. Of course, there will be ample time to experience Guyana's culture and natural beauty!
Funding Global Health Scholars will receive funding provided by a grant from Hope Through Healing Hands, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of global health by supporting sustainable health development. Funding will include:
All of our residents will be given full consideration for the Global Health Scholars in Emergency Medicine Program. Getting to Know Guyana
History Guyana is a beautiful South American country, which means “land of many waters.” It is located on the northern aspect of South America and borders Venezuela to the west, Suriname to the east and Brazil to the south. The country is a former British colony and was previously known as British Guiana. The official language of Guyana is English, reflecting its colonial origins. Despite the location of Guyana on the South American continent, it is culturally and economically part of the Anglophone Caribbean community and is often considered a Caribbean country. Demographics Guyana is about 83,000 square miles in size, or about the size of Idaho. The capital city of Georgetown is located on the Atlantic coast near the mouth of the Demerara River and has a population of about 240,000. The country as a whole has a population of about 772,000. Much of the interior of the country is rainforest and the country has one of the lowest population densities in the world (ranking 225 of 239 listed countries). Major ethnic groups have East Indian, African and Amerindian backgrounds, in addition to smaller groups from Chinese and European extraction. Economy Guyana is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, though its economy has been improving in recent years. Overall, Guyana ranks 127 of 185 listed countries in per capita GDP. Major agricultural exports include rice and sugar. Mining is important for the economy and includes bauxite and gold. Statistical indicators of health status of the population of Guyana lag behind most of the surrounding countries. Guyana ranks 155 of 211 listed countries in life expectancy. Nevertheless, the country has made major efforts in improving the economic and health status of the population in recent years. Weather The weather in Guyana in notable for its tropical Caribbean climate. The high is usually in the mid to high 80’s with a low in the low 70’s. The rainy season is from May to June with a second peak in December and January but it can rain hard any time of the year. Guyana does not typically get struck by hurricanes. Guyana is in the time zone that corresponds to GMT -4 and does not observe daylight savings. Tourism Guyana has many features that are attractive for tourism and has had increasing numbers of eco-tourists in recent years. Georgetown is known for its Victorian architecture while the interior regions are dominated by wide rivers, pristine jungle and Amerindian villages. Guyana has several notable waterfalls including the famous Kaietur Falls which, with an uninterrupted drop of 741 feet, is known for having possibly the greatest combination of height and volume of any waterfall in the world. Residents participating in this program will have ample time to explore this exciting country! |
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