Monday, 25 February 2019

In Fall 2017, the University of Nicosia Medical School signed agreements with the Arnold School of Public Health and the School of Medicine of the University of South Carolina (USC).  Both agreements cover the exchange of students, faculty and staff, and the development of collaborative opportunities in research and education.

Dr Audrey Billeaud, a Family Medicine physician and Global Health Fellow from USC’s Family and Preventive Medicine Department became the first faculty member to take advantage of the agreement.  In her statement to MedNews Dr Billeaud said:

“I will be in Cyprus for three months working with the University of Nicosia Medical School and the Hope for Children organisation on research projects and the promotion of family and preventive medicine. The fellowship is a two-year programme with the fellows working part time as family medicine faculty, part time as students in a Master in Public Health programme, and part time conducting research/quality improvement projects at an international site. 

Last August, I accompanied Dr Mark Humphrey, of USC’s Family and Preventive Medicine Department Faculty and Assistant Global Health Fellowship Director, to meet with members of the University of Nicosia Medical School and Hope for Children CRC Policy Centre to discuss possible projects and collaborations.  Since that time, a team of researchers and I have worked to create a proposal for a health needs assessment and educational intervention for the unaccompanied minors seeking asylum at the Hope for Children shelter in Nicosia.  The project will attempt to address gaps in the participants’ health knowledge, health literacy, and access to health care, with emphasis on the transition to adulthood.  Currently the project is awaiting approval from the Cyprus National Bioethics Committee. Researchers include: Kimberly Humphrey B.Ed. (Master in Social Work Candidate), Andria Angastiniotou (Hope For Children Deputy Director of the Humanitarian Division), Sofia Leitao (Hope for Children Director of the Research Division), Dr Ourania Kolokotroni (Chair of the Department of Primary Care and Population Health of the UNIC Medical School), Dr Mark Humphrey (USC Family and Preventive Medicine Department Faculty and Assistant Global Health Fellowship Director), Dr Jeffrey Hall (USC Family and Preventive Medicine Department Faculty and Global Health Fellowship Director), Dr Breanne Grace (USC School of Social Work Faculty).

The University of Nicosia Medical School Mobile Clinic has graciously allowed me to participate as an adviser on several excursions.  The Mobile Clinic provides an amazing opportunity to enrich medical students’ education and promote public health and preventive medicine in communities across Cyprus.  I appreciate the opportunity to teach medical students on-site and interact with communities. I have also partnered with the University of Nicosia MSc in Family Medicine faculty to assist in creating assessment questions and simulated cases. Recently I participated in an on-site course in skills building and case discussions with some of the MSc students. Promoting the practice of Family Medicine internationally is a passion of mine, and I enjoy contributing to this degree programme.

Cyprus is the land of coffee, sunshine, and hospitality.  I arrived in Cyprus in mid-January and have very much enjoyed my time here.  Despite apologies about how ‘terrible’ the weather is from everyone, I am grateful to escape the winter freeze in Columbia, South Carolina. Cypriots are friendly and always ready with a smile to brighten any day. In my opinion, Nicosia has the most coffee shops per capita in the world! I look forward to new experiences and collaboration opportunities during the rest of my time here.”

Dr Audrey Billeaud , 5th from left, with the Mobile Clinic Team at Kofinou Health Centre on 23 January 2019