Academy Launches Web-based International Update Newsletter

Contributions to New Publication Sought

By News Staff
8/27/2008

The AAFP's Center for International Health Initiatives has launched a Web-based newsletter -- International Update -- for family physicians, faculty members, family medicine residents and medical students to share their global medicine experiences, projects and interests.

The inaugural issue of the newsletter is available via the AAFP's "International Family Medicine" Web page (look for the newsletter link in the left-hand column) and also can be downloaded directly (6-page PDF; About PDFs).

The summer 2008 International Update features nine articles covering a wide range of topics:

Family physician Edward Shahady, M.D., of Fernandina Beach, Fla., writes about his first international health experience as a Navy medical officer in South Vietnam from 1965 to 1966. Describing himself as a "green draftee fresh out of my internship," Shahady talks about his efforts to care for critically ill children under the most trying of circumstances.
Andrew Ibrahim, a second-year medical student at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, describes a 2007 Leahy Global Scholar Award project in Romania that involved a half-dozen high-school students, one medical student and literature and social anthropology professors. The project, designed to foster a cross-generational, multidisciplinary team working in a tiered mentorship system, already has resulted in two of the young students declaring their intentions to pursue more global service work.
Alexis Cambanis, M.D., of Whittier, Calif., director of the tropical medicine program at the Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital Family Medicine Residency affiliated with the University of California, Irvine, gives an overview of several projects the program has helped facilitate at various sites in Cameroon and Zambia.
Perry Pugno, M.D., M.P.H., director of the AAFP Division of Medical Education, and Amy McGaha, M.D., assistant director of the division, describe various Academy resources and other information available to facilitate residents' and students' interest in international health activities.

The newsletter will be published twice a year, with the second issue scheduled for release in January 2009.

Medical students, family medicine interest group coordinators, family medicine residents, faculty at family medicine residencies and academic departments, and practicing family physicians are invited to contribute; for more information, send an e-mail to Alexander Ivanov, AAFP manager of international activities. In addition, contributors from nonprofit organizations active in international health also are welcome.

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