Teaching and Training
The Centre has a strong track record of student support, linked with the MRC Unit on Child Health at Red Cross Children’s Hospital, which currently supports 40 postgraduate students on multiple studies focuse on research in child health. Ongoing mentorship and student supervision is a core aspect of the research of the Centre. Prof Zar has a strong track record of capacity development including supervision of masters, PhD and postdoctoral students and establishing the African Paediatric Fellowship Programme, which has trained dozens of fellows from South Africa and other African countries in paediatric or paediatric sub-specialties.
Trainees from the African Paediatric Fellowship Programme spend from 6 months to up to 2 years training in the paediatric pulmonology unit. African trainees in the past 5 years include: Francis Ogara (Kenya), Hellen Aanyu (Uganda), Lisa Obimbo (Kenya), Ada Ayuk (Nigeria) and Leah Githinji (Kenya), Ann Irungu (Kenya) and Wilson Osarogiagbon (Nigeria). A post graduate diploma in paediatric pulmonology is available through the University of Cape Town. Members of the unit have a strong involvement in continuing medical education initiatives nationally and internationally and in national, African and international professional societies. Members are actively involved in the production and dissemination of national and international guidelines on different aspects of child lung health.
