Global Health Education in Nephrology: The Time has Come

Abstract

At no time in history has it been more apparent that our own health is affected by the health of others around the world. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has forced the realization that the health of one nation affects all nations. Moreover, for several decades the global burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as kidney disease, has been rising, notably on the African continent. 1 As global citizens and nephrologists, we are reminded of the critical importance of global health and the need to equip the next generation of health care workers at home and abroad with the necessary skills, mindset, and experiences to care for patients with kidney disease.Nephrology as a medical subspecialty is severely underrepresented in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC). For example, in Uganda only one nephrologist is available for kidney care for four million people; in the United States, the ratio is one kidney doctor for 70,000 people. 2,3 Academic institutions need to take a central role in bridging the gap among nations in nephrology care coverage by building joint educational programs that will enhance nephrology training globally. 4 Over the last 20 years, universities in the United States have significantly increased global health educational opportunities. These include, but

The Africa non-communicable diseases (NCD) Open Lab: Impact of a portfolio of clinical studies to deepen the understanding of NCDs in sub-Saharan Africa

“…As of 31 May 2023, 139 articles have been published in peer-reviewed journals, including some notable publications in high-impact factor journals, such as The New England Journal of Medicine [ 13 ], The Lancet Global Health [ 14 ], The British Medical Journal [ 15 ], and The Journal of the American Society of Nephrology [ 16 ] (see full reference list in Appendix S2 in the Online Supplementary Document ). Further journal publications are expected to follow.…”