Pita's Global Docs Blog from Argentina

I am excited to announce that I will be on sabbatical during the fall of 2008 to study how family physicians in Buenos Aires practice chronic disease management. The Argentinean population struggles with many of the same chronic health conditions we do within a health care system that is a mixture of private insurance and government subsidized health care. In Argentina I will be lecturing on how primary care clinics in the United States are modifying health care delivery in an effort to improve the care of our own patients with chronic diseases.

At Smiley’s, we have a reputation of being pioneers in family medicine, both in terms of education and patient care delivery. This sabbatical furthers our mission to promote innovative care both locally and globally. It is also part of my mission as incoming program director to support each resident in cultivating his or her own global outreach. As such, I am optimistic that my visit will open the door for residents interested in completing an elective rotation in Buenos Aires.

While I am on sabbatical, Tim Ramer, MD, will be the interim program director. Dr. Ramer, Joel Wegener, MD, our new associate program director, and I have worked together in a leadership capacity for several years. We have created strongly rooted support systems and educational experiences to ensure that graduates are excellent family physicians who are innovators in their work place, advocates for their patients and prepared for an ever changing healthcare system.

While in Argentina, I plan to talk with each applicant to the residency program, via webcam, so I can meet each prospective resident and familiarize them with our program mission, vision and goals. I am happy to talk to candidates by phone, by webcam or via email at times other than on their interview day. Starting in January 2009, I will be back in Minnesota and eager to meet residency applicants in person.

Keep in touch by reading my Global Docs Blog Argentina.

11.7.8

And now, a bit about the residency programs that I have been able to work with.  Of several family medicine residency programs in Buenos Aires, I had the opportunity to work with two. Read more

10.24.8

I am finally ready to start writing about my perceptions of chronic disease management here... First a quick review of what we know about the success of chronic disease management following the Wagner care model.  Read more