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A Case Study Optimizing Human Resources in Rwanda's First Dental School: Three Innovative Management Tools
Donna M Hackley1, Chrispinus H Mumena2, Agnes Gatarayiha2
1Donna M. Hackley, DMD, MA, is Principal Investigator of Harvard School of Dental Medicine's Human Resources for Health Rwanda Project, as well as Part-Time Instructor, Department of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and Clinical Instructor, Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, University of Rwanda School of Dentistry, Kigali, Rwanda; Chrispinus H. Mumena, DDS, MDent OMFS, PGCLTHE, is Acting Dean, University of Rwanda School of Dentistry, Kigali and Huye, Rwanda; Agnes Gatarayiha, MSc, is Acting Deputy Dean and Chairperson of Research, University of Rwanda School of Dentistry, Kigali and Huye, Rwanda; Corrado Cancedda, MD, PhD, is Academic Consortium Coordinator for Human Resources for Health Program, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA; and Jane R. Barrow, MPH, is Associate Dean for Global and Community Health, Executive Director of the Initiative to Integrate Oral Health and Medicine, and Lecturer in Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine. dmhackley@comcast.net.
Rwanda
Area of Science:
- Oral health
- Health systems strengthening
- International collaboration
Background:
- Rwanda lacked a dedicated dental school.
- The Human Resources for Health (HRH) Rwanda initiative aimed to bolster the nation's healthcare system.
- Collaboration between Harvard, Maryland, and University of Rwanda was established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish Rwanda's first School of Dentistry.
- To develop management tools for measuring progress in systems strengthening.
- To enhance efficiency and impact of the HRH oral health program.
Main Methods:
- Development of a comprehensive road map for the dental school's operations.
- Implementation of faculty work plans with biweekly progress reports.
- Redesign of the faculty twinning model to foster collaboration based on academic interests.
Main Results:
- Improved efficiency and engagement of Rwandan dental faculty.
- Increased impact of U.S. faculty contributions.
- Valuable insights into successes and challenges in achieving targets.
Conclusions:
- The developed management tools effectively measure progress in health systems strengthening.
- These tools facilitate resource allocation, knowledge exchange, and sustainability.
- The collaborative effort is foundational for advancing oral healthcare education in Rwanda.