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Video

Care Equity, Quality, and Safety

(A133) Nan difikilte, nou grandi (In Difficulty We Grow): Hybrid Curriculum Advancing OHNS Training in Haiti

Monday, October 13, 2025
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EDT
Location: OTO EXPO, Posters

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Myra A. Zaheer, BA

    Medical Student
    George Washington University, School of Medicine & Health Sciences
    Bourbonnais, Illinois, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • KR

    Kenley Romelus, MD

    Hôpital de l’Universite d’Etat d’Hait, United States

    • Presenting Author(s)

  • Rolvix Harlan Patterson, III, MD, MPH

    Resident
    Duke University Medical Center
    Durham, North Carolina, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • VS

    Valerie E. Salano, MBChB, MMed

    Otolaryngologist
    Kajiado County Referral Hospital,County Government of Kajiado
    Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya

  • DN

    Doreen Nakku, MD

    Senior Lecturer
    Mbarara University of Science and Technology
    Mbarara, Uganda

  • GV

    Gabriela Valentin, BS

    Larner College of Medicine, United States

    • Senior Author(s)

  • PJ

    Patrick M. Jean Gilles, MD

    Assistant chief of the ENT-HNS at the State University Hospital of port au prince
    ORLO clinique; State University Hospital of port au prince
    Port au prince, Ouest, Haiti

Disclosure(s):
Rolvix Harlan Patterson, MD, MPH, III: No relevant relationships to disclose.
Valerie E. Salano, MBChB, MMed: No relevant relationships to disclose.
Doreen Nakku, MD: No relevant relationships to disclose.


Introduction: The otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS) residency program at Hôpital de l’Université d’État d’Haiti (HUEH), the only OHNS training program in Haiti, serves a population of nearly 12 million. Recent economic constraints, political instability, and infrastructure disruptions have severely impacted the program, including the cessation of in-person didactic sessions. This study details the first year of a virtual didactic curriculum, developed through collaboration between the Global OHNS Initiative and HUEH leadership.

Methods: The virtual curriculum was designed to meet the competencies identified by the HUEH residency program, addressing the need for continued education amid the challenging local conditions. Due to safety concerns regarding travel to Port-au-Prince, a virtual format was chosen to facilitate global expert participation. The Global OHNS Initiative recruited lecturers through social media, nonprofit networks, and direct outreach. Weekly Zoom lectures were supplemented with live French captioning. Pre-recorded content was also made available for residents facing internet connectivity issues.

Results: Launched in May 2023, the curriculum has delivered 19 specialized lectures across all OHNS subspecialties, attended by all 9 Haitian residents. Despite limited physical infrastructure and hands-on training, early feedback suggests the initiative effectively preserved educational content and promoted cross-border collaboration.

Conclusions: The virtual curriculum has proven to be an effective educational solution during this crisis. The partnership between HUEH and international contributors has been essential in maintaining continuity. Future studies will evaluate the curriculum’s impact on resident knowledge and explore its scalability for other institutions facing similar challenges.