Title:	Advanced training course inLaboratory Tropical Medicine and Clinical Humanitarian Response
Keywords:	Tropical medicine Medical & Clinical sciences Malaria Laboratory Humanitarian setting
Country:	United States of America
Institution:	USA - Global Medicine, University of Minnesota
Course coordinator:	Sarah Sponsler Megan Shaughnessy
Date start:	2025-05-19
Date end:	2025-05-30
About duration and dates:	This course runs 10 days over two weeks, Monday through Friday. There are no pre-reading tasks or assignments outside of these 10 days.
Classification:	advanced optional
Mode of delivery:	Face to face
Course location: University of Minnesota Health Sciences Education Center (HSEC) 526 Delaware Street SE Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455, USA
ECTS credit points:	3 ECTS credits
SIT: This is an intensive face-to-face course, with 80 total student investment hours over 10 days. Over 10 days, there are 60 hours of in-person instruction (30 each week), divided into: - lectures (10 hours) - hands-on laboratory sessions (20 hours) - hands-on humanitarian simulation activities (20 hours). - small group activities, including discussion and reflection on ethical considerations and professional activities (10 hours) Additionally, the course has another 20 hours for independent study and exam preparation, completed during these 10 days.
Language:	English
Description: At the end of the module the student should be able to: 1. Demonstrate practical laboratory skills in tropical medicine, to deliver clinical care in a variety of settings. 2. Simulate high-quality clinical care in resource-limited settings, with a focus on tropical medicine and humanitarian response. 3. Reflect on ethical considerations for global health in resource-limited settings and in professional careers.
Assessment Procedures: Class attendance: students must attend at least 80% of classes to pass the course. Overall passing score = 60 % / 100 % To pass the course, students must receive a score equal to or higher than 60% on each component. Grade Score Range A 90% or above B 80-89% C 70-79% D 60-69% E < 60% 40% - Participation in small group work (pass/fail, minimum attendance of 80%) This assessment component is achieved by attending and participating. During small group activities participants must demonstrate skills in order to progress to the next group. During simulation activities groups may be as small as 3-4 students. If any student is not able to demonstrate the skills, they receive additional assistance at the end of that half day with the instructor. The grade for this portion is based on the percentage of hours participated, with a minimum requirement of 80% attendance. These activities are primarily formative, to provide students the opportunity to practice and apply skills under direct supervision by instructors, and students will be awarded pass/fail points for participating. 10% - Reflective activity This reflective activity is required in a half-day session on ethics in global health. An ethical scenario is presented in class, and the participants are asked to write down their reflection to this scenario. This activity is also designed to be a formative activity, and therefore is graded as a pass/fail activity. Students who complete the activity with active participation will receive full points for this section, and students who miss this activity, or do not actively participate, will be required to complete it at a later time to receive points for this section. 10% - Written end-of-course laboratory microscopy exam (25 MCQs based on microscope slides) This is a written exam based on microscopic slides, requiring students to answer questions on basic organism identification, diagnosis, or treatment decisions based on the slides provided. Participants use a microscope during the exam to answer each question. 40% - Written end-of-course exam (100 multiple choice questions) This exam is closed book, and is taken on campus on the last day. The exam has 100 MCQs written by teaching faculty from each lesson in the course, designed in a standard format, used by the ASTMH Certificate of Knowledge in Travel and Tropical Medicine. Remediation / resit: Students who fail the exam have the opportunity to retake the exam within one month from the end of the course. The re-sit will be performed through an online examination. Hands-on activities that are not completed are evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the course directors. If possible, the participants will be provided another opportunity to complete what they missed. However, they may be required to complete what they missed at a subsequent course.
Content: Week 1 - Laboratory - (Learning Objective 1) Laboratory Skills and Hematology Entomology and Ectoparasites Blood and Stool Parasites Dermatology Cases from Tropical Infections Global OB Simulations Ultrasound Week 2 - Humanitarian - Learning Objective 2) Cardiac Echo and Cardiology Skills Medicine and Trauma Case-Based Simulations Travel Medicine Pre and Post Cases Splinting and Procedures Pediatric Procedural Pearls Ethics in Global Health - (Learning Objective 3) Careers and Global Health Final Exam and Course Review
Methods: This is primarily a hands-on, small group-based course, with lectures, small group activities, and hands-on laboratory sessions and simulation activities. For example, ultrasound days involve hands-on practice with mannequins and human models with guidance from experts in point of care ultrasound. Travel related cases are discussed in facilitated small groups discussions in a problem based learning format. Immersive case simulations are utilized for teaching resource utilization and training on responding to common or high consequence scenarios. This includes cases on responding to trauma in low resource settings, identification and management of outbreaks of high consequence pathogens, identification and treatment of tetanus, and fluid resuscitation with minimal equipment. Students make their own slides and review example slides in the laboratory component. This course is in-person only. Optionally, selected online asynchronous supplemental material can be requested for additional learning (not required for completion of the course).
Prerequisites: This is an advanced clinical course in tropical medicine, laboratory, and humanitarian response. Prior knowledge and experience in clinical health sciences is required. As a general rule, at least 3 years (180 ECTS) should be completed in a degree program in medicine. For other health professions, such as nursing, laboratory technician, biotechnology, and biology, will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the course leadership. Although not required, participants are encouraged to have already completed all seven courses of the Clinical Tropical Medicine & Global Health Online Curriculum, or similar study in tropical medicine and laboratory skills. For reference: https://med.umn.edu/dom/education/global-medicine/courses-certificates/online Experience in low and middle income countries is relevant but not necessary. All activities are in English and fluent English is required. If relevant, the minimum requirements are English TOEFL test score 213 (computer-based) or 550 (paper-based) or 79-80 (internet-based) or IELTS band 6.0.
Attendance: This course has a maximum of 46 students.
Selection: Students are accepted typically on a rolling basis. If capacity is reached, tropEd students can be considered on a case-by-case basis by contacting the course director and tropEd representative.
Fees: Practicing health care providers (HIC): USD $1,900 Practicing health care providers (LMIC): USD $1,100 Residents/Trainees/Students: USD $1,100
Scholarships: Limited scholarships are offered each year for participants from existing partner sites, on a case-by-base basis.
tropEd accreditation: Accredited June 2024 in Cuernavaca. The accreditation is valid until June 2029
Remarks: All students have daily access to course directors and teaching faculty. In addition, tropEd students will have a dedicated meeting with the tropEd representative at the start and end of the course. All content is part of an approved curriculum qualifying for the US Certificate of Knowledge in Clinical Tropical Medicine and Traveler’s Health (CTropMed Examination), as well as the UK Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (DTM&H). For further details: check here and here
Email Address:	megans@umn.edu
Date Of Record Creation:	2024-07-05 03:22:26 (W3C-DTF)
Date Of Record Release:	2024-07-05 08:49:00 (W3C-DTF)
Date Record Checked:	2024-07-05 (W3C-DTF)
Date Last Modified:	2024-10-11 10:35:31 (W3C-DTF)