Pioneering family medicine: A collaborative global health education partnership in Ethiopia

Abstract

In 2013, Ethiopia launched its first Family Medicine (FM) residency programme at Addis Ababa University (AAU). The University of Toronto’s Department of Family and Community Medicine (DFCM) was invited to support Addis Ababa University’s Department of Family Medicine’s (AAU-FM) educational programme activities forming the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration in Family Medicine (TAAAC-FM). This paper describes the TAAAC-FM partnership, a capacity-strengthening initiative that focuses on four key levers of academic engagement and transformation: education offerings for AAU-FM trainees, partnership preparation of DFCM faculty, fostering AAU-FM faculty development and leadership, and lastly scholarship, knowledge sharing and mentorship. Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration in Family Medicine operates on principles of respect, flexibility and cultural sensitivity. Monthly virtual meetings and annual in-person faculty visits fostered curriculum support, teaching and leadership training, ensuring that the programme remained responsive to evolving needs. The partnership has contributed to a Community of Practice (CoP) to advance FM in Ethiopia, promoting shared learning. Addis Ababa University’s Department of Family Medicine faculty leads in various roles, engages with global FM communities, and contributes to policy development, demonstrating significant progress in FM education and leadership. Looking ahead, TAAAC-FM aims to adapt its efforts based on the capacity built with AAU-FM, continue faculty development, and strengthen linkages within the global healthcare community. The partnership’s success underscores the importance of collaborative, culturally informed high-low resource setting approaches to FM training and healthcare system strengthening, offering valuable insights for similar initiatives.