ELAB To Be Integrated Into Residency Program At JFK

Following two years   since the launch of the Experiential Learning Assessment Lab (ELAB) at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital (JFK) in Monrovia, all is set and ready to integrate it into the Residency Program at the JFK.  It can be recalled that with support by the Government of the United States of America (USA) through United States Agency for International Development (USAID) program Bringing Research to Impact for Development and Global Engagement – Utilization (BRIDGE–U Liberia) with partnership with the University of Liberia (UL) in 2022 launched the ELAB.  The ELAB is part of the support program to the University of Liberia College of Health Sciences (ULCHS) under the Center for Teaching Learning, and Innovation (CTLI). The goal is to improve healthcare delivery by beefing up health education with medical students to get practical knowledge.  Speaking at an elaborate ceremony, the Vice President of the College of Health Sciences, Dr. Bernice T. Dahn, encouraged professors to build stimulation into their work plan. With a plan to keep monitoring the process, Dr. Dahn stressed the need for concerted effort in making the health sector better.  “It is the responsibility of all of us to ensure that we get what we need to get there. Think and work together to get things done,” she added. Speaking earlier, The Deputy CEO/Administrator of the JFK,  Dama Koffa, expressed excitement about the integration process as she sounded a caution for mandatory training.  “The lab is where we need to learn to do that safely.  Training has to be mandatory. If you don’t want to be trained means you don’t belong here. These things have to be mandatory. This is a critical thing that we need to impact into our resident and I don’t want the cost to be a deterrent.” In a brief remark, renowned medical doctor/surgeon Dr. Peter Coleman described the stimulation process as a good technology for the medical sector.  “It’s a good technology for the medical sector. It brings a lot of quality to the clinical skills. We will make sure that we mobilize funds for our faculty to attend. We are encouraged by this exercise,” the former Grand Kru County Senator and head of the Liberia College of Physicians and Surgeons (LCPS) told the gathering.  At the same time, Dr. Michelle Niesuerenko, Pediatric Consultant from the Boston Children’s Hospital, said the stimulation lab is of great importance to the healthcare delivery system.  The international health expert said the ELAB is needed to boost clinical medicine.  “It is all we need to boost clinical medicine. It is intended to learn and practice our high skills, it’s something we should tap into,” she asserted with a call to health care providers and learners to make the best use of the stimulation lab.