The Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI): Innovations and Lessons for Health Professions Training and...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Public Health Initiatives
• International Health

Background:

• The Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) was a $130 million grant funded by PEPFAR and NIH.
• MEPI aimed to strengthen medical education and research capacity in 13 Sub-Saharan African medical schools.
• Implementation occurred from September 2010 to August 2015, led by African Principal Investigators.

Purpose of the Study:

• To increase the number and quality of doctors trained in Africa.
• To bolster locally relevant health research capabilities.
• To promote graduate retention and ensure the long-term sustainability of medical education reforms.

Main Methods:

• Instituted competency-based curricula and established medical education units.
• Created research support centers to foster institutional and collaborative research.
• Expanded the program through in-country consortia to over 60 medical schools, forming South-South and South-North partnerships.

Main Results:

• Led to the establishment of 10 new medical schools and doubled student intake in some institutions.
• Increased postgraduate student numbers threefold and improved faculty expansion and retention.
• Secured sustainability by integrating MEPI innovations into national budgets with support from ministries and universities.

Conclusions:

• MEPI successfully enhanced medical education and research infrastructure across Sub-Saharan Africa.
• The initiative fostered significant growth in medical training capacity and graduate retention.
• MEPI's legacy continues through AFREhealth, expanding to include other health professionals for a more inclusive approach.