One University Approach

The Botswana-UPenn Partnership began within the Infectious Disease Division of the Department of Medicine in 2001. In subsequent years the program expanded to include clinical rotations at the Princess Marina Hospital in Gaborone for fourth year medical students doing a subinternship elective in Internal Medicine, for third year Internal Medicine Residents, and for trainees and faculty from multiple subspecialties in the Department of Medicine, including Pulmonary Allergy and Critical Care, Nephrology, Rheumatology, General Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, and Gastroenterology. In addition, trainees and faculty from other departments in the School of Medicine have participated in the clinical care and educational programs in Botswana, including Neurology, Family Practice and Community Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, Dermatology, Radiology, Ophthalmology, and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.

 

With strong support from the offices of the President and the Provost, the Botswana-UPenn Partnership has emerged as a University-wide program for students and faculty. Provost Ron Daniels traveled to Botswana in the summer of 2006 and spring of 2007 and President Amy Gutmann in the summer of 2007. Discussion between Deputy Vice Chancellor (Provost) Professor Frank Youngman at the University of Botswana and Provost Ron Daniels lead to a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Botswana and Penn to establish collaborative research and training programs related to HIV/AIDS, to develop training initiatives for graduate medical and nursing education, and to establish undergraduate and graduate exchange programs for students and faculty. In March 2007 Provost Daniels hosted the leadership from the University of Botswana, Vice Chancellor (President) Professor Bojosi Otlhogile and Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Frank Youngman to further enhance ties between the institutions and to introduce our Botswana colleagues to deans and faculty from multiple Schools at Penn. What has emerged is a university-wide involvement by multiple Schools in the Botswana-UPenn Partnership. Some of the emerging programs are described below.

 

School of Nursing

· In 2007, Penn student nurses did summer internships in Botswana focused on nursing care in the community. A similar program is planned for 2008.

· Nursing faculty are key investigators on an NIH grant involving collaborations between the University of Botswana and Penn to evaluate HIV prevention in Botswana.

· Penn nursing faculty have met on numerous occasions in Botswana and at Penn with the leadership from the Botswana School of Nursing to design research studies and develop exchange-training programs.

· Collaborative research proposals related to domestic and gender violence are under development, as are proposals related to reproductive health, trauma and road accidents.

· Discussions are underway with nurses from Botswana interested in studying at Penn’s School of Nursing.

· HUP clinical nursing is collaborating with the Head Matron (nurse) at the Princess Marina Hospital (PMH) to implement training programs is ICU and cardiology nursing at PMH and to establish leadership training programs in nursing.

· The School of Nursing is sponsoring a multi-day symposium in Botswana in July 2008 on issues concerning women and child abuse.

 

Wharton School

· Wharton faculty members have designed an electronic medical record that is installed in a large private clinic in Gaborone, Botswana. The program will be evaluated in a research study that uses computer-generated text messaging to remind HIV patients to refill prescriptions and make follow up clinic visits.

· During the summer of 2008, Wharton undergraduates will be participating in a summer internship program in Botswana.

 

School of Arts and Science

· The African Studies Center is exploring opportunities to work with the University of Botswana to enhance Setswana language (native to Botswana) and cultural sensitivity training on Penn’s campus, and to support sabbatical opportunities for University of Botswana faculty members at Penn.

· The Demography Department has initiated a student exchange program with the University of Botswana by accepting a student into the doctorate program at Penn.

· Undergraduates from SAS did a summer internship in Botswana in 2007. A similar program is planned for 2008.

· Semester abroad experiences in Botswana for Penn undergraduates began in 2007. Two students participated in 2007 and two more during the spring semester of 2008.

 

Annenberg School of Communication

· A large NIH grant to study prevention of HIV in Botswana originates from the Annenberg School of Communication. This grant includes funding to build capacity in Botswana for epidemiology and biostatistics.

 

The University Museum

· Exchange programs with faculty at the University of Botswana are planned for calendar year 2008.

· A summer internship slot is planned for 2008 for a Penn student who is interested in archeology in Botswana.

 

School of Veterinary Medicine

· Veterinary Medicine students worked in veterinary clinics and game parks in Botswana as part of the summer internship program in 2007. Similar opportunities are available for 2008.

 

Law School

* A summer internship position is available in 2008 for a law student to work in the Attorney General’s office in Botswana.