EDUCATION FEATURED PROJECT- Faculty development among African Oncology Faculty: A Collaborative Partnership with the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC)

Faculty development (FD) programs have been shown to foster teaching, research, leadership, and administrative skills of medical and allied health faculty. Yet the benefits of FD in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) including countries in sub-Saharan Africa have been hampered by unique challenges including a disproportionate emphasis on leadership roles, advocacy, stewardship, system inadequacies, low salaries and high risk of brain drain. The enormity of the burden of disease in Africa coupled with the meager resources and the shortage of oncologists put oncology faculty in such settings at higher risk of burnout and feelings of isolation. A rejuvenated and satisfied oncology faculty contingent is needed to address these challenges. This project seeks to develop and run a blended FD course for African oncologists who will be attending the annual meetings of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC). This initiative will create a Networked Improved Community (NIC), a scientific learning community network characterized by a well-specified aim to achieve common accomplishments. It will be guided by a deep understanding of the problem and the system that produces it while articulating a theory of improvement, following the rigor of improvement science, and carefully coordinating activities to amplify the testing of ideas and their applications.