Elect to teach
Traditionally, medical students spend their electives practising clinical medicine. However, Eoin Young, Rob Melvin, John Coombes, and Miriam Samuel decided to use their basic computer knowledge to teach
- By: Eoin Young, Rob Melvin, John Coombes, Miriam Samuel
It seemed like a fairly unlikely scenario--four of us, only one with really good computing skills, teaching computer skills in Tanzania. We had all signed up for electives designed to emphasise learning about development and globalisation issues relevant to health. We did a special study module before going and began to plan a project. We had never heard of the digital divide between developed and developing countries before but were keen not just to observe and take while on elective, but also to contribute something useful.
The inspiration for our project was an ongoing scheme run by the Centre for Health Informatics and Multiprofessional Education at University College London. In this scheme, medical students with good computing skills teach those with poorer skills. We wondered whether UK medical students could usefully share skills with students in Tanzania.
After making contact with staff at Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences in