A new medical school, the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), opened five years ago in the remote northern Rwandan town of Butaro. The vision of the founders of the organization, Dr. Paul Farmer and Partners in Health, had a mission to provide care where it is most needed. After years of planning, their efforts finally came to fruition, culminating in the establishment of a world-class medical school in rural East Africa. The organization will be completing their medical training next summer. After 6 1/2 years of rigorous training, 40 newly minted doctors will provide care to vulnerable people across the country and provide medical care to those in greatest need.
We are very proud of the work Skincare Physicians have done in developing the Dermatology program at UGHE. Dr. Sara Hogan, former SkinCare Physicians partner and program manager, Dr. Jeffrey Dover, and Dr. Tania Phillips was instrumental in developing the curriculum for the fourth year medical students. Dermatology courses consist of classroom lectures, small group discussions, workshops and patient care. Dr. Ariel Eber, a partner at SkinCare Physicians, was the first member of the global volunteer organization to personally teach the program in 2023. Dr. Dover, Phillips, and Hogan all traveled to Rwanda to train this year.
A recent survey of medical schools in Sub-Saharan Africa ranked UGHE eighth out of 117, despite not completing its first doctorate. For students who are fortunate enough to be admitted to UGHE, 100% of their tuition and room and board are covered, which helps ensure that the best and brightest of all Rwandans are given the opportunity to study at one of the best medical schools in the world. from Africa.
Although there is much to be done, we are all very proud of the work of SkinCare Physicians in the UGHE and the justice in the world.