UH doctors awarded $400,000 to advance healthcare around the world

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Four University Hospitals physicians have been collectively awarded more than $400,000 over three years to travel internationally to share their expertise and gain new medical knowledge. The physicians will combat health disparities, perform research, focus on prevention and share state-of-the-art techniques and therapies through hands-on programs, lectures and research in Kenya, Brazil, Senegal and other countries, UH said in a recent announcement. Each physician will receive $35,000 per year for three years, ending in 2027. The grants were made available by Northeast Ohio philanthropist and world traveler Roe Green, who donated $14 million in 2019 to expand UH’s efforts improve global health through outreach and education. “We are and will always be Northeast Ohio’s hometown team for care, but it’s a privilege and honor to share our expertise around the world,” said Dr. Robert Salata, chairman of the UH Department of Medicine. “Roe Green’s generosity allows our caregivers to help educate others and bring compassionate care across the globe while also learning new skills.” Here are the participating physicians and their projects: * Dr. Katherine Dobbs will lead a collaborative research project to study antimalarial drug resistance in Kenya and Benin. This project will also support educational exchanges between research teams in Kenya and Benin. * Dr. Shubham Gupta and his team will travel to Ukraine to help with combat-related reconstructive urology, and Egypt to assist with complex urinary reconstruction needs. Gupta and his team also will pilot the use of smart glasses and AI technology that could the future of remote teaching. * Dr. Bianca Ribeiro will work to improve pediatric imaging and healthcare in Brazil and Mozambique. * Dr. Rachel Pope plans to return to Senegal with a team of reconstructive urologists to provide vesicovaginal fistula repairs and complex gynecological and urological reconstruction. Pope also will continue in person training in obstetric fistula repair and distributing a surgical coaching app she previously created previously. A vaginal fistula is a hole in the vagina that lets urine, gas or stool pass through the vagina. A vesicovaginal fistula is an opening that develops between the bladder and the wall of the vagina. Julie Washington covers healthcare for cleveland.com. Read previous stories at this link.