October 2010 E bulletin

A.     SAMA Partnership with Sudan Medical Council (SMC)

On August 23rd 2010, in Khartoum, Dr. Ihab Abdulrahman, Vice President of SAMA, Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Khartoum, and Dr. Bushra Ibnauf, SAMA Adminstrator, Gastroenterologist, Jeddah, KSA (formerly of Wichita, KS, USA) held a meeting with officials from the SMC.  The fruitful meeting discussed many important issues and here are the results: 

  1. SMC Licensing Exam:  SAMA members will assist in contributing to the SMC licensing exam question bank.
  2. SMC registration:  SMC will be prepared to assist in expediting registration process for SAMA members.  Automatic registration for fully trained members in the USA will be considered.
  3. Visiting SAMA Faculty program: This program is jointly sponsored by SAMA and SMC. It involves the double sponsorship for SAMA members visiting Sudan and would like to participate in clinical/academic activities. SAMA will be responsible for all the logistics whereas SMC will provide the recognition letters etc. Further details to follow.

 

B.     SAMA Humanitarian Activities

1. Assistance to University of Gezira

We are raising funds to transport donated laboratory equipment from University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska to University of Gezira. UNMC have been generous enough to offer University of Gezira through her the following equipment free of charge: cryostate machine for preparation of frozen sections, slide stainer and  flourescent microscope.

The above equipment is very expensive and will revolutionize the laboratory practice in University of Gezira.  We are raising funds to cover the transportation costs (via air cargo) from Omaha Nebraska, to Khartoum, Sudan. The estimated sum is $2500. Please write your checks to “SAMA” and mail them to: SAMA , P.O. Box 38, La Crosse, WI 54602-0038.  

2. Supporting Sudanese Academy for Deaf and Speech  Disabilities  (SADD)

Pursuant to our conference discussions with Prof. Taha Talaat, President of SADD, we are in the process of acquiring equipment for SADD, further information to follow. 

3.GENA Foundation Humanitarian Mission to Sudan

SAMA has agreed to work in conjunction with GENA in coordinating their upcoming visit to Sudan. GENA is a non-profit organization founded by a group of Sudanese people residing in the US, which is primarily targeted to carrying out humanitarian work in Sudan. They have successfully performed several visits to Sudan with provision of volunteer medical services. They are supported and assisted by staff from the Sabin institute and George Washington University in DC. They intend to perform another mission in December 18th to December 30th 2010, the final program of which will be completed in the coming days. Further information in their website www.genafoundation.org. This program is focused on management and eradication of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), malaria and poverty. They will be providing treatment and giving lectures. If interested in joining this mission please contact us at admin@sama-sd.org

 

C.     SAMA E-clinic (Pediatrics Theme)

www.sama-sd.org/sama-e-clinic

Case of the month is from Ireland. It is a well written case by Taha I.Y Hassan, & Basil Elnazir of the Pediatrics Respiratory Department in the National Children’s Hospital in Dublin, Ireland. It is reviewed by Dr. Douglas Nelson, Pediatric Allergist/Immunologist, Franciscan Skemp – Mayo Health System, La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA.

Image of the month is from Sudan. It is another well written case by Sulafa Ali, FRCPCH, FACC, Pediatric Cardiologist in Sudan Heart Centre, Khartoum, Sudan. It is reviewed by Susan G. MacLellan-Tobert, MD, FACC, FAAP, Pediatric Cardiologist and Section chair of Pediatric Specialties at Gundersen Lutheran Medical center, La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA.

 We are both thrilled and excited by the caliber of our authors and reviewers, and the rich educational content of the cases, and welcome all contributions to this educational project. So please email your clinical cases, and educational images to admin@sama-sd.org.

D.    SAMA program for supporting Residency Match Applicants

1.  Observerships  We still need observership positions for Residency applicants in the following specialties/cities: 

  • Internal Medicine, Philadelphia area, PA ( 2 physicians)
  • Internal Medicine, any location in USA

          If you can sponsor an observorship, please email us admin@sama-sd.org

 2. Personal Statement Review

For this match season we have reviewed 20 personal statements. We thank all those who have assisted in this.

 3.  Overnight accommodation/Airport transportation

The interview season is starting; the next phase in our range of support activities is providing overnight accommodation and airport transportation for residency match applicants.

Please visit http://sama-sd.org/residency-match-applicants  for  more information.

 

E.      Membership fees & contributions

If you haven’t paid your membership fees please mail a check for $50 to “SAMA” , to the following address:
SAMA,
P.O. Box 38 ,
La Crosse, WI,
54602-0038

 

SAMA Administration