Gurujala Shailaja, M.D., director of medical education in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, recently visited campus to further the collaborations between medical schools in her state and UNMC.
This follows a memorandum of understanding signed between UNMC and the Directorate of Medical Education, Andhra Pradesh in May that allows for education, research and clinical care collaborations.
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Gurujala Shailaja, M.D., second from left, meets with UNMC ob/gyn residents during her recent visit to UNMC. Dr. Shailaja is director of medical education in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where UNMC has set up collaborations for research and student exchanges. |
Dr. Shailaja said she found a strong commitment to global health in UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D.
“Dr. Maurer is a rare individual who takes a special interest in foreign students,” she said.
Agreement beneficial on several levels
One of her hosts for this trip was Chandra Are, M.D., surgical oncologist and associate program director of general surgery residency and the lead architect in the establishment of the partnership between UNMC and India.
“This agreement has great potential for an expanded relationship with India in all areas including education, research and clinical care,” Dr. Are said.
In September, UNMC’s first exchange student, Paul Kolkman, M.D., started a six-month international surgical rotation in India. In January, up to three students will arrive at UNMC for a six-week course.
Indian medical students start young
In India, Dr. Shailaja said, students enter medical school immediately after 12th grade. After four-and-a-half years of education, they continue with three years each in residency and fellowship.
Starting next year, the 31 medical schools in Andhra Pradesh admit 1,600 students a year. Andhra Pradesh is in southeast India and has a population of 76 million.
India important to UNMC’s global reach
India is an important part of UNMC’s global initiative, said Ward Chambers, M.D., coordinator of International Health and Education at UNMC.
“We now have more post-doctoral students from India than from China at UNMC,” he said. “An exchange program will help research, education and clinical care on both sides of the world.”
Dr. Chambers and Iqbal Ahmad, Ph.D., professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences, returned to India this past weekend to discuss the research exchange program.