Global Health Program

Welcome to the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Augusta University, home of the Medical College of Georgia

The mission of the Global Health Program within the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University is to promote awareness of global health issues, support international medical and surgical experiential learning, and foster healthcare collaboration through a comprehensive educational.

The Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology is proud to offer a remarkable opportunity for global health education in partnership with CerviCusco, a Peruvian registered non-governmental organization. The program began in July 2012 with the following objectives: provide coursework for concentrated learning within the discipline of global health; provide comprehensive experiential learning opportunities in Women's Health within an underserved area, utilizing available resources in an effort to serve the community and reduce disease burden; and build relationships for collaboration in academics, clinical practice, and research. The integration of global health with experiential learning at an international site improves the quality of education of our residents. Global health education and international experiences impact future opportunities and career pathways for all participants. 

Residents entering our residency program will gain knowledge on important issues in global women's health, including up to four to six weeks on an international rotation in Cusco, Peru. The experiential learning environment may include clinical care of patients at CerviCusco, local hospitals, and on campaigns around the region of Cusco. While residents will participate in all aspects of women's health care at the international practice sites within Peru, the program remains flexible regarding the educational experience and patient exposure. Residents may participate in both ambulatory or inpatient care of patients, including obstetrics and gynecologic surgery as available. In addition, residents participate in telemedicine in the form of cytopathology conference under the direction of CerviCusco staff in conjunction with faculty from Harvard. Augusta University has clinical faculty in Peru dedicated to the education and supervision of our residents. The Global Health Program meets all of the requirements of the ACGME, including rotation-specific educational goals and objectives, on-site faculty for the provision of resident supervision, and strict adherence to the duty hours restrictions. Although Spanish fluency is not mandatory, residents are encouraged to learn some Spanish to improve the educational experience. However, many patients speak only the native Quechua.

Why choose Peru for a global health initiative?

CerviCusco was founded by Dr. Daron Ferris, Professor at Augusta University and Director of the Gynecologic Cancer Prevention Center. Dr. Ferris is nationally and internationally known for his work in both vaginitis and pre-invasive diseases of the female genital tract. A former president of the American Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology, Dr. Ferris expanded his vision outside of the United States to advance cervical cancer prevention in Peruvian women. For many reasons, the majority of Peruvian women with cervical cancer are diagnosed at advanced stages when treatment options are limited and survival rates are poor. Cervical cancer is the leading cause of death in Peruvian women 15 to 64 years of age.

CerviCusco is a Peruvian registered non-governmental organization dedicated to preventing cervical cancer. Established in 2006, CerviCusco is affiliated with the International Cervical Cancer (INCCA) Foundation, a non-profit (501c3) organization registered in the United States of America. CerviCusco maintains a modern medical center in Cusco, Peru permanently staffed by a Peruvian healthcare team. Expert foreign medical providers work at CerviCusco on a volunteer basis throughout the year. The professional staff delivers extraordinary care for all women, including those who are disenfranchised and impoverished. In addition to specializing in the prevention of cervical cancer, CerviCusco also provides other women's health care services. CerviCusco serves as an educational training site for many future health care providers, including residents and students in nursing, dental medicine, medicine, and allied health fields across the United States.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL ALERTS AND WARNING - Us STATE DEPARTMENT  

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL ALERTS AND WARNING - cdc

For more information about residency in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Augusta University or about opportunities to participate in the Global Health Program, contact: