Transformation of medical education through Decentralised Training Platforms: a scoping review

Dr Motlatso Mlambo

qualifications: PhD

contribution: designed the project, literature review, supervised data collection, input data, statistical analysis, contributed to drafts, wrote the first draft

position: Senior Researcher

South Africa

My areas of research interest are on social aspects of HIV/ AIDS and health in rural communities, with a specific focus on maternal and child health.

Ms Abigail Dreyer

qualifications: MPH

contribution: literature review, collected data, input data, contributed to drafts

position: Lecturer

I hold a BA Degree, Advanced Diploma in Adult Education and a Masters in Public Health, from the University of Western Cape. I also completed a diploma in the Anthropology of Children and Youth in Research and Development at the University of Cape Town. My academic publications have appeared in ChildrenFirst (a journal on issues affecting children and their carers) and on the website of ID21 (internet based Research Highlights). Local conferences at which I presented papers include the 7th Reproductive Health Priorities Conference hosted by Reproductive Health Research Unit and the South African Gender-based Violence and Health Initiative (SAGBVHI) Conference. My international conference attendance includes a Womens' Leadership training programme in Ghana by CEDPA and the International Planned Parenthood Federations' global roundtable marking the 10th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development. I participated in the link programme sponsored by the British Council with Leeds Metropolitan University and was part of a lecturer exchange to strengthen Health Promotion work while working at School of Public Health as a staff in Health Promotion Cluster. My consultancy experience has included work for the Policy Project where I have designed and facilitated HIV/AIDS training with Women's groups, Faith-based organisations and Youth. I also supported the Regional programme by initiating a Health Promoting Schools programme in Lesotho with 6 schools as a pilot study. I have trained volunteers at Rape Crisis Cape Town and NICRO Women's Support Centre, two organisations that address gender-based violence. My passion for arts, drama and creative expression has strengthened my work with youth and young children at the Grahamstown National Schools Festival where I facilitated workshops on developing life skills. I have also worked with juveniles in Pollsmoor Prison.

Rainy Dube

qualifications: MBBCh

contribution: literature review, collected data, input data, contributed to drafts

position: Lecturer

Dr Nontsikelelo Mapukata

qualifications: ND & BTech Med Tech; MSc Health Care Management; MSc Med (Bioethics and Law)

contribution: original concept, designed the project, contributed to drafts

position: Lecturer

Currently employed as Senior Lecturer in the School of Public Health Medicine at UCT. Previously worked as Head: Office of Student Support (Wits); Lecturer in Rural Health (Wits) and a co-ordinator of the Wits Initiative for Rural Health Education (WIRHE), a scholarship programme that provides financial support and mentoring to students from previously disadvantaged communities. Prior to joining institutions of higher education (Durban University of Technology 1998-2004; the University of the Witwatersrand 2005 – current) for ±10 years she worked in a diagnostic cytology laboratory .

Prof Ian Couper

qualifications: MBBCh; MFamMed; FCFP(SA)

contribution: contributed to drafts, Substantial contribution to design, literature review

position: Director

South Africa

Professor Ian Couper is Director of the Ukwanda Centre for Rural Health and Professor of Rural Health at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. A trained family physician, he spent nine years practising in a remote rural hospital in northern KwaZuluNatal province, and then 16 years working in primary care and health service development in rural North West province. He held the first chair of rural health at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). He has chaired both the Rural Doctors Association of Southern Africa (RuDASA) and the Wonca Working Party on Rural Practice (WONCA Rural).

Richard Cooke

qualifications: MBChB, MMed Family Medicine

contribution: contributed to drafts, Intellectual contribution, Editing

position: Director Centre for Rural Health and Acting head of department

South Africa

Personal and research interest in rural health now ingrained after a 7 year stint as a rural doc in the former Transkei, "the Wild Coast", Eastern Cape, South Africa. Recently joined the Centre for Rural Health team at Wits Medical School. Trained as a Family Physician, my specific interests lie in Family Medicine, Primary Health Care, and advocacy around "rural-proofing" of health policy to suit the underserved rural communities in South Africa and further afield.