Contributing to the Viability of IME

"I believe that the original partners from Africa have remained in the partnership primarily because they have a great need. The current focus of IME is HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS is devastating countries at every level of the society. In addition, foreign aid to black Africa is less than aid to many other nations in Africa and Europe. The U.S. is still perceived as having all the resources. The partners remain unflinching in their desire to learn how to tap resources and gain access to this wealth through grant writing, and contacts with foundations and philanthropic organizations.

However for me, my perspective is service and improving health outcomes. In this regard, what I discovered was that I needed additional leadership training. Many individuals may think that simply because a person is a professional, a physician, that collaboration is natural or that physicians are automatically effective administrators. This is not necessarily the case. My participation in the ICHLD Health Partners Fellowship definitely influenced my performance and the subsequent outcome of the Exchange Program. "