Pathology Education Outreach

Promoting Pathology Education and Training in the South Pacific and South-East Asia Region

The RCPA is actively engaged in Pathology Education Outreach to promote pathology education and training in the South Pacific and South-East Asia. The Pathology Education Outreach Committee (PEOC) oversees the Outreach Program in countries such as Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Western Samoa, Tonga, the Solomon Islands, and other Pacific and South-East Asian nations. The main focus of the PEOC is training and education, which complements the pathology service delivery and clinical capacity building that many pathologists generously assist with in developing communities.

Activities co-ordinated via the PEOC are undertaken by Fellows on a voluntary or self-funded basis. We couldn't manage without our volunteer Fellows. Through education and training, our pathology volunteers help regional pathologists and trainees improve the lives of the people they service and make their communities more supportive, connected and inclusive. The RCPA is grateful to our many volunteers for the huge contributions they make in promoting pathology in the region.

We assist in teaching and examination of the Pathology Postgraduate Diploma and Masters Program at the Fiji National University (FNU) in Suva. Fellows have been involved in the development of this Program from its inception all the way to obtaining University Senate approval.

Initially designed for the Fijian trainees, the program is now open to trainees from other regional countries. The success of the program depends on RCPA Fellows travelling to Fiji to deliver the teaching of the program. We are always looking for Fellows who wish to participate in the teaching of the program.

Although a former colony of Australia and only 5km from its closest point, PNG has major challenges, especially in healthcare (in some areas among the worst in the world).

Fellows assist in teaching and as external examiners at the University of Papua New Guinea. We also undertake teleconferenced microbiology tutorials and have major input into Infectious disease and microbiology projects.

We need more Fellows to participate in teaching and to assist in external examinations. The PNG College of Pathology was established in 2015 and they have expressed interest in collaborating with the RCPA.

Work to build local microbiology laboratory capacity continues. Training and infection control workshops are on-going. Antibiotic workshops for pharmacists have been held and hospital wide point prevalence survey conducted. We continue to work with the local scientists to improve skills, with a strong focus on quality control.

A new Pacific Region Infectious Disease Association has been formed to focus on all aspects of infectious disease management - microbiology laboratory capacity building, management of infections, antimicrobial resistance and infection control.

Vanuatu recently appointed its first fully qualified local pathologist. Currently, Vanuatu has a small laboratory in Port Vila that undertakes haematology and histopathology. Surgical specimens were previously sent to the Gold Coast Hospital in Australia due to lack of funding, and this has now stopped. The histopathology laboratory needs upgrading to make it fully functional.

Like Vanuatu, Samoa and other South Pacific nations face similar problems. Their pathology laboratory services are under-resourced. Many countries, eg Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, have only one consultant pathologist, whilst others like Samoa and Tonga have senior registrars and only intermittent consultant support. Other countries like Kiribati and Tuvalu have no trained medical pathologists at all and send all their specimens to Australia.

Working as a lone pathologist in such settings can be extremely demanding, since pathologists often need a colleague to ask for second opinions on difficult cases, and cover leaves of absence. Retaining a pathologist in these conditions is often difficult, and some trained local pathologists end up leaving their countries or moving into administration or other specialties.

RCPA Fellows deliver transfusion medicine training courses in Vietnam. These courses are usually held in two different locations with two days in each location and each session is attended by more than 100 participants.

The focus here is on Microbiology, Haematology, Transfusion and Anatomical Pathology laboratory capacity building. Support is provided by the Flinders Overseas Health Group.

We are helping to establish a new Cerebrospinal Fluid and Blood Culture service for the National Laboratory. A Scientist mentorship/exchange program is being undertaken from Darwin hospital. The activities are supported by the Menzies School of Health Research ‘Stronger Systems for Health Security Program’.

The focus is on microbiology laboratory capacity building.

We assist in the teaching of microbiology laboratory staff and Antimicrobial Stewardship at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital in Thimphu.


Other RCPA Initiatives

The RCPA has the following two Foundation Grants:

  • Pathology Outreach Education Fellowship
    The RCPA Foundation Pathology Outreach Education Fellowship funding is to assist College Fellows and Trainees in advancing and promoting Pathology education, training and local capacity building in developing countries in the region. Funding of the Fellowship has been made possible through voluntary donations from Fellows and Trainees.
  • Sullivan Nicolaides Partnership Pathology Scholarship
    The RCPA Foundation Sullivan Nicolaides Partnership Pathology Scholarship provides the opportunity for one overseas pathologist, Doctor, trainee or scientist working in the field of Pathology, from a Pacific Island nation, to attend a Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology (SNP) laboratory in Australia, to gain experience, advance their pathology education and training and foster ongoing collaboration and support.

Applications for the above two Grants open on 1 February and close on 30 June. For more information, including an application form, see RCPA Foundation awards, grants and scholarships webpage.

The RCPA also provides sponsorship for four regional pathologists/trainees to attend our Annual Scientific Meeting Pathology Update.

The RCPA hosts regional trainees from the Pacific and South East Asia for up to three months of Pathology laboratory attachments in Australia, funded by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Australia Awards Fellowships program.

RCPA Visiting Lectureship (To Overseas) provides education to our South East Asian Fellows and Trainees and allows an exchange of knowledge, skills and practices in pathology in order to assist in their continual professional development.

Online classes, continuous trainee monitoring and support are available in selected disciplines to trainees.
 

Access to Online Education Materials

The RCPA’s Education Portal provides educational resources for pathologists, Trainees, scientists, medical and dental students, and junior doctors.

The Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists (AACB) provides on-line educational materials to regional pathologists/trainees at a discounted rate. 
 

Other Training Blogs for Registrars

Microbiology and Infectious Diseases postgraduate teaching blog disseminates teaching materials and discusses instructive topics, journal articles, cases about microbiology, infectious diseases, infection control and antimicrobial stewardship. It has been primarily designed with post-graduates in mind.
 

How CAN you help?

  • We are continuously looking for funds to support our activities in the region. You can generously donate at RCPA Foundation Pathology Outreach Education Fellowship.
  • Undertake face to face pathology teaching in regional countries (even if only passing through these countries for a short time). Trainees also need mentoring, supervision and assistance in laboratory capacity building.
  • Provide on-line distance teaching.
  • Provide pathology teaching resources, such as textbooks and equipment, as there is a shortage of such resources in these countries.
  • Hosting regional pathologists and trainees for laboratory attachments in Australia and New Zealand.

Need More Information?

How do I get more information? To find out more about current volunteer opportunities or to apply for an opportunity, please contact: Pathology Education Outreach Committee: peoc@rcpa.edu.au

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13-Feb-2024
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