Internship/Local Practicum Opportunity: Quality Improvement, Patient Care Supportive Initiatives with Dana Farber
*Great opportunity for students who may not have time for a full overseas practicum*
Organization: Dana Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center
Address: 450 Brookline Avenue (Longwood Medical Area), Boston, MA 02215-5450
Website: http://www.danafarberbostonchildrens.org/globalhealth
The Global Health Initiative (GHI) at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders
Center (DF/BC) is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on countries with limited resources,
and brings together faculty, fellows, nurses, social workers, psychologists, health educators,
and managers to improve outcomes for children. We are working to establish centers of
excellence in pediatric hematology and oncology in the developing world, and we are training
the next generation of leaders. Our mission is to improve the lives and enhance the care of
children with cancer and blood disorders worldwide. All GHI activities include ongoing efforts
to establish twinning partnerships with sites in low and middle income countries and are
centered around three objectives: Program building (twinning), Education and Research. At
present, GHI operates a variety of projects in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, the
Middle East and the Caucasus Region.
One of the ongoing projects is a twinning and education collaboration with Children’s Cancer
Hospital Egypt 57357 in Cairo, Egypt. CCHE 57357 is one of the top pediatric oncology providers
in Africa and the Middle East region. The hospital opened its doors in July 2007, after raising 1
billion EGP (US$167 Million) in private donations. It is the largest freestanding pediatric cancer
hospital in the world, is completely sustained through donations, and all care is fully charitable
and free of charge. For more information, please visit www.57357.com.
INTERNSHIP SUMMARY
Primary Site: Dana Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA
Foreign Site: Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357, Cairo, Egypt
The internship will be a team project with 2-3 students who will have the opportunity to apply
global public health skills to a realistic and vital issue on the quality of care of children with
cancer in Egypt. It will focus on a quality improvement projects to examine how use of the
Central Venus Access Device (CVAD), nasogastric (NG) tubes and gastrostomy (G) tubes impact
pediatric oncology patient outcomes. At present, a very small percent of hospitalized children
(about 7%) are using a CVAD which results in a number of negative consequences such as pain,
infections, burns, discomfort, and others. The goal is for all eligible new patients (approximately
1900 per year) at CCHE 57357 to have a CVAD placed to minimize extravasations, increase
patient satisfaction and improve outcomes. The goal is for eligible patients meeting criteria to
have NG or G tubes placed is to maintain body weight, and the percentage of lean body mass
during chemotherapy and radiation treatments for cancer. The internship includes a one or
two- week-long site visit to CCHE 57357 (CCHE 57357 will assume the costs for the site visit:
airfare, housing and $500 stipend).
To learn more and apply, view full description and details.
