INMED Speakers Bureau
INMED is pleased to provide our INMED Speakers Bureau to address issues of cross-cultural and low-resources healthcare.
Please Contact INMED to explore any of these speakers. In addition, other INMED Faculty may also be available for engagements.
Nicholas Comninellis MD, MPH, DIMPH
President and Professor
Todd Franks
VP of Operations
Scott Armistead MD, DIMPH
Dean of Faculty
Timothy Myrick MD
Board Chair
Sean Mark MD, DIMPH
Director Emeritus
Diane Petrie FNP-BC, DINPH, AAHIVS
DINPH Graduate
Nicholas Comninellis
MD, MPH, DIMPH
INMED President and Professor
Dr. Comninellis offers a number of videos, interactive virtual, and live presentations on the full range of international health subjects. Please view his videos here.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the limitations of the rescue paradigm
- Advocate for community-wide development
- Equip local health leaders to better care for their own
Abstract: Disasters, epidemics, and public health crises continue: Puerto Rico’s Hurricane Maria, Yemen’s cholera epidemic, Flint Michigan’s lead poisoning. The heartening response from many is to devote personal time, talent, and treasures to disaster relief, assisting those in crisis. Virtuous indeed, but even well-intentioned efforts have limitations. We must move beyond a rescue mentality and also pursue those interventions that build more durable communities. These interventions often include economic development, improved basic education, and highly efficient health initiatives. Throughout, we must equip and encourage local leaders with vision and skills to continue building strength from within their own communities. View This Video Presentation.
Learning Objectives:
- Appreciate the scope of the worldwide refugee crisis
- Identify the basic issues involved in meeting the needs of refugees
- Design comprehensive refugee care interventions for specific populations
Abstract: International refugee care is a pressing global issue. Today’s world has more refugees seeking asylum than at any time since the end of WWII. 86% of refugees are hosted in developing countries, severely straining existing social infrastructures. This presentation will introduce the principles of international refugee care, including the four recognized phases: Pre-Emergency/Mitigation Phase, Emergency Phase, Post-Emergency/Maintenance Phase, and Repatriation Phase. Throughout these phases, refugee leaders must attend to concern over security, location of settlements, mental stress, dependency, and host-guest relations. View This Video Presentation.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize the questions of ethics and effectiveness surrounding of such missions
- Develop reliable partnerships with national healthcare leaders
- Embrace the virtue of continuity & long-term investment
Abstract: Short-term medical missions are a popular phenomena among North American healthcare professionals. Beyond a gesture of compassion, however, serious questions may surround the professional ethics and actual effectiveness of this practice. Short-term medical missions are often further complicated by concerns connected with limited time commitment, inadequate resources, unfamiliar cultural context, and lack of continuity following departure. A key element in assuring that such missions are ethical, effective, and culturally relevant is national partnerships: cooperation with healthcare professionals, healthcare institutions and/or educational institutions in the host nation. Such partnership may involve provision of materials, instruction, and/or special services – always in collaboration with, and ideally, under the direction of national leaders. Another key element is continuity of commitment over a period of years, especially when such periods of service are of short duration. View This Video Presentation.
Learning Objectives:
- Measure the health of communities by recognized standards
- Advocate for physical health, literacy, & economic growth
- Take personal action on behalf of a forgotten people
Abstract: Leaders in government, ethics, and healthcare agree on the imperative of health for all people. But while enormous gains have been made towards this end, today there exist multitudes of forgotten people who suffer preventable diseases and receive no healthcare. These forgotten people often include immigrants, refugees, minorities, elderly, disabled, non-English speakers, urban and rural poor, and victims of disaster and war. In their defense, health leaders must become effective advocates – rallying resources on their behalf. Health leaders must also prioritize prevention and treatment of forgotten diseases like measles, leprosy, vitamin A deficiency, polio and tetanus. View This Video Presentation.
Learning Objectives:
- Apply principles of wisdom toward career decisions for service to forgotten people
- Prepare one’s self with the appropriate professional skills
- Prepare one’s personal life for the unique challenges of such service
Abstract: An international healthcare career tract is often marked by challenges of unusual diseases, minimal resources, and confusing cultural contexts. From the beginning, it is vital to apply the principles of wise decision-making: intercession, analysis of pros and cons, soliciting advice, and ample patience. Professional decisions include selection of a specialty, a community to serve, a sending organization, and sometimes language learning. Personal decisions include money management, personal health, family relationships, and legal compliance. Throughout this process, determination and perseverance are essential qualities for a virtuous international healthcare career. View This Video Presentation.
Learning Objectives:
- Advocate economic development as it relates to health
- Advocate for ending military conflict
- Advocate for effective disease interventions
Abstract: Poverty and health are intimately associated. The nations of poverty are also home to the lowest life expectancy, greatest child mortality, and highest number of preventable deaths. Three interventions are especially effective. First, we must promote economic development, for history demonstrates that as overall income increases so does health status. Second, we must stand against military conflict, for in nations so embattled over 90 percent of deaths are from hunger and infectious diseases. Third, we must advocate those specific interventions that have proven most effective against the leading diseases of poverty, such as the provision of safe drinking water and mosquito nets to prevent malaria, though these priorities may be inconsistent with the standard medical paradigm. View This Video Presentation.
Learning Objectives:
- Avoid health interventions that are ineffective due to cultural irrelevancy
- Employ a process of observing, understanding, and adjusting to local cultures
- Design health interventions that are culturally appropriate and ultimately successful
Abstract: Many culturally influenced behaviors have important health consequences. As we better understand culture, we can become more effective health promoters. “Culture” itself is an integrated system of learned behavior patterns. Most cultures contain a broad mixture of both “scientific” and “traditional” viewpoints. Cultures can be effectively understood in terms of their perspectives on human nature, the relationship of humans to nature, their sense of time, their perspective on activity, and influence of social relationships. To effectively promote health in a new cultural context, one must apply the most basic principles of cultural adaptation: Observe, Understand and Adjust. Frequently say to your national colleagues, “Help me to understand why…” Asking questions maintains self-respect and creates ownership. Improvement in health behavior is a process built on trust and relationship. This presentation includes case studies and interactive use of role-playing to enhance the learning experience. View This Video Presentation.
Abstract: The Health field is in crisis for lack of wise leadership, yet leadership skills are rarely taught. Health leaders in limited-resource communities must design and implement health systems that are both effective and efficient. A “health system” is a design for effective interventions based on health needs and on available resources. A variety of interventions may promote health but are either inappropriate or inefficient. To design a health system, first assess needs and resources. Second, plan appropriate interventions. Third, assure these are carried out. This three-step process is cyclical and continuous. Four levels of Interventions are commonly considered: population-oriented, disease oriented, primary care, and hospital care. View This Video Presentation.
Abstract: What is your blood type? Type O Negative is the “universal donor” – the rarest and also the most useful of all blood types. Healthcare professionals possess skills to protect and restore health. But like people contemplating blood donation, they often hold back from service to those in greatest distress. Concerns often expressed are fear over personal safety, finances, children’s education, and family life, unfamiliar disease, cultural barriers, and inadequate medical resources. The presentation addresses these fears with the aim of aiding healthcare professionals themselves to become “universal donors” on behalf of the world’s most poor. View This Video Presentation.
Abstract: INMED President Nicholas Comninellis describes his early failure on location in southern Africa to apply what he learned at the Walter Reed tropical medicine school to actual patient care. This failure to launch from didactic learning to performance is pervasive throughout education. The key element to successful transition is often practical, real-life experience, ideally in the presence of a dedicated mentor. INMED, the Institute for International Medicine, makes full use of this model, combining online and in-classroom education with on-the-field service-learning experiences with INMED facility residing in twenty-five developing nations. View This Video Presentation.
Abstract: Personal role models can profoundly impact our values and aspirations, resulting in exceptional inspiration or devastating iniquity. Nicholas Comninellis explores the power of role models and how these impact development of social movements, citing illustrations from his personal life and the genesis of INMED. Deliberate selection and rejection of persons to emulate and with whom to partner is a vital life skill. Dr. Comninellis concludes with a challenge for personal integrity and action on behalf of the world’s most forgotten people. View This Studio Video Presentation and Live Presentation.
Learning Objective:
- Identify major causes of maternal death and strategies for improvement
- Promote effective family planning & contraception
- Manage common complications of delivery
- Empower others to provide these essential services
Abstract: Surviving motherhood is a genuine concern. Maternal and newborn deaths make up the 6th and 7th leading causes of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) lost in the world’s poorest nations. Post-partum hemorrhage (PPH), eclampsia-preeclampsia, abortion complications and failure to progress are the leading maternal causes of death. Major modes of decreasing maternal morbidity and mortality are to reduce family size and to provide quality obstetric care at time of delivery. Breastfeeding is the most natural, available contraceptive, with multiple additional benefits. Management of PPH requires immediate evaluation and intervention, particularly against atony. Basic newborn resuscitation should be universally available. Healthcare professionals must advocate for the provision of these essential services to safeguard mothers and newborns. View This Video Presentation.
Abstract: Rapidly increasing international trade and travel predictably increases the likelihood of rapid transmission of infectious diseases. The devastation caused by the 1918 Spanish influenza epidemic, and the worldwide alarm prompted by the 2004 SARS epidemic provide important insights into today’s concerns surrounding COVID-19. Epidemic investigation is based upon finding evidence-based answers to critical questions, including identifying the infectious agent, the mode of transmission, incubation period, and effective modalities for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Emergency pandemic control also often requires deliberate intervention to address special ethical challenges: disease-associated racism, resistance to local and international cooperation, and extreme stress placed upon low-resource health systems. View This Video Presentation.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify delivery risks for mothers and newborns
- Mitigate delivery risks for mothers and newborns
- Provide for the healthcare needs of newborns at delivery, include ventilatory support when appropriate
- Transfer newborn healthcare skills to other providers
Abstract: Some one million newborns die each year from inability to breathe at birth. This presentation introduces Helping Babies Breathe (HBB), an evidence-based educational program to prepare learners to teach basic neonatal resuscitation techniques in low-resource locations to benefit midwives, mid-level providers, and traditional birth attendants. Presentation highlights include the concept of the Golden Minute, basic bag and mask ventilation techniques, and continued newborn care during the first hours of life.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify a correct differential diagnosis of among common disease states
- Manage the disease appropriately in a low-resource setting
- Engage in effective disease prevention
Abstract: Effective management of disease in low-resource settings is particularly challenging for practitioners accustomed to both diseases of excess and abundant healthcare resources. Clinicians do well to begin by first understanding the epidemiology of the particular community. What, for example, are the most common causes of fever or diarrhea? Armed with a general understanding of probabilities, clinicians then must apply astute attention to history and physical examination, with minimal reliance upon laboratory or radiological evidence. Treatment options must also be modified to conform to local and often extremely limited resources. Finally, clinicians must be keen to use each patient care opportunity to both hone their skills and to transmit those skills to others. This presentation includes use of interactive case studies to enhance the learning experience.
Learning Objectives:
• List a differential diagnosis for pediatric acute abdomen
• Describe treatment principles of osteomyelitis
• Describe the management of necrotizing fasciitis
Abstract: Acute surgical conditions in tropical or low-resource settings may differ significantly from high resource ones. Unique risk factors may include malnutrition, exposure to water- or food-borne infectious agents, and traumatic injuries. The three cardinal surgical skills generally expected of such surgeons include management of acute peritonitis, cesarean section, and long bone fracture. Other strikingly common surgical diseases requiring surgical intervention include osteomyelitis and necrotizing fasciitis.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain the unique challenges to evaluating tropical fever
- Describe the importance of considering local geography and epidemiology
- Enumerate symptoms and signs that suggest particular diagnoses
Abstract: Evaluation of fever in a tropical setting is a daunting clinical challenge due to unfamiliar causes, limited diagnostics, and cultural divides. Begin with knowledge of local epidemiology to assess probabilities. Next, glean clues from the history, such as freshwater exposure (schistosomiasis) and physical exam such as conjunctival injection (leptospirosis). The proliferation of rapid point-of-care diagnostic tests holds promise. In many situations, a malaria test and neutrophil count can suggest the probable causes of tropical fever. This presentation includes case studies and interactive use of role-playing to enhance the learning experience. View this Video Presentation.
Learning Objectives:
- Select among the multiple modalities of service toward forgotten people.
- Manage the common rationales for not serving marginalized people.
- Mobilize yourself and your colleagues.
Abstract: It is human nature to defend. Whom will you defend? It is human nature to step up to a challenge. What challenge will you choose? Today we witness marvelous progress in healthcare: robotic surgery, miracle cancer drugs, vision correction procedures. Yet on the perimeter of our communities both in North America and abroad live multitudes of people who are barred from these innovations because of poverty, illiteracy, culture, and distance. Healthcare professionals often possess a virtuous desire to serve the poorest of the poor. But how do we move from feelings of inspiration to deliberate steps of action? This presentation takes makes us of popular movie clips demonstrating individuals who advance from inspiration to mobilization.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the main hazards for those traveling to low-resource communities
- Protect oneself from such illness & injury
- Seek appropriate medical assistance
Abstract: Contrary to most perceptions, the leading causes of death among Americans who travel abroad are injuries and chronic diseases that they were suffering at the time of travel. Advanced preparation includes attention to injury prevention, adequate control of chronic disease, and measures to prevent infectious diseases. The latter include routine vaccinations, special vaccinations, emergency medications, and measures to prevent insect-borne diseases like malaria and dengue. Travel insurance and identification of reputable local medical care providers should be arranged prior to departure. Travelers are wise to also consider their own mental health in advance.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the controversies connected with use of technology
- Establish guiding principles for application of technologies
- Apply these principles to select technology most appropriate for given settings
Abstract: Healthcare is chronically in crisis – especially in low-resource settings. Improved health and healthcare demand skilled leadership, with attention to health systems. One ethical principle for developing successful health systems is the effective use of limited resources. This includes the appropriate application of technology. What principles can be used to determine whether a technology is appropriate or not? Reliability, sustainability, and acceptability. Some appropriate uses of technology in low-resource health systems often include rapid diagnostic tests, mobile health information systems, ultrasound imaging, and adherence to the use of WHO & National Essential Drugs. Collaboration with local partners and hosts is also essential. Their guidance greatly increases the likelihood that technology will be used appropriately. This presentation includes interactive use of role-playing to enhance the learning experience.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the burden of the chronic diseases in developing countries
- Innumerate the challenges of managing these illnesses in low-resource settings
- Describe effective strategies to combat the most pervasive chronic diseases
Abstract:The most dramatic recent change in developing world health is the shift in burden of disease away from major infections towards chronic, non-contagious diseases. Malaria, TB, and HIV continue to cause tremendous suffering, but gains are being realized. Simultaneously, increasing longevity and adoption of “modern” lifestyle has produced expanding morbidity and mortality from COPD, cancers, coronary artery cerebrovascular disease. These are not simply disorders of abundance. Rather, they disproportionally impact people who are most poor, and the illnesses drive them into greater poverty. Intervention begins with reduction in familiar risk factors (smoking, obesity, fatty diet, sedentary lifestyle) and management of associated diseases, especially hypertension and diabetes mellitus.
Abstract: Health is an ongoing crisis throughout the world. Cost is high and growing. Access is limited for those separated by distance or insufficient finances. And, quality care is difficult to assure. This is an age for heroes in healthcare who realize that the outcome aim is not simply more healthcare services. Rather, it is a system of care that results in healthier lives. A useful strategy is to revisit how care in incentivized: to pay for healthcare based on value of care, rather than on volume of care alone – so called Value Based Reimbursement. Practically speaking, how can we measure quality? By compliance with practice guidelines: evidence-based best practices, clinical markers (Hgb A1c), patient case management, preventive care, and use of health information systems. The latter make possible the tracking of compliance. Professionals providing primary care are well suited for quality-based care reimbursement because their patients already receive continuous and comprehensive care. Primary care is research-proven to improve quality and length of life, and to reduce overall costs. From multiple perspectives, indeed, Health is Wealth, and we do well to incentivize this fact.
Abstract: This session addresses the palpable issues of global health education, both to enhance the skill of North American personnel being sent and the skill of local hosts whose capacity needs to grow. Competency-based learning is emphasized throughout, with a focus on effective teaching and learning that is participatory, interactive, and case-based. Realistic outcome measurements will be suggested, with the adoption of locally-relevant criteria. Reference is made to the experience of INMED, with 600+ graduates over 12 years. During this presentation, participants will create their own framework by which to assess and/or design their own unique global health education programs.
Learning Objectives
- Explain Covid-19’s impact on global health.
- Describe the influence of poverty on health.
- Specify the developing world’s highest priority disease interventions.
Abstract: The Covid-19 Pandemic has collapsed economies, devastated healthcare systems, overwhelmed hospitals, and killed millions of people. In the wake of the Pandemic, what is the way forward towards global health? This presentation, made via Zoom mid-Pandemic, unveils a roadmap for removing the risk factors that obstruct global health and promoting the interventions that protect populations. This presentation also explores the roles of education and economic development in achieving health for all, and concludes that No one is safe until everyone is safe.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the leading causes of acute abdominal pain.
- List the clinical signs associated with leading causes of acute abdominal pain.
- Describe the special assessment of acute abdominal pain in children and females.
Abstract: Acute abdominal pain represents 15 percent of visits of emergency departments. 35 percent of primary care physicians report uncertainty with management. Correct diagnosis is paramount to correct management of acute abdominal pain. Evaluation begins with careful history with special attention to precipitating factors. Patient age and sex also highly influence the differential diagnosis. Physical exam with location of pain is extremely useful. Pain in particular abdominal regions is associated with likely diagnoses, often confirmed through evidence gathered from selective laboratory and imaging.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the leading causes of acute chest pain.
- List a differential diagnosis, including associated signs, for acute chest pain.
- Describe emergency management of acute myocardial infarction.
Abstract: Acute chest pain is the most common serious condition prompting patients to seek emergency care. Primary care physicians are often those to first manage such patients. Correct diagnosis is paramount to correct treatment of acute chest pain. Evaluation begins with careful history with special attention to coronary artery disease risk factors. Patient age also highly influences the differential diagnosis. Causes of acute chest pain can often be divided into five categories: psychological causes, chest wall causes, gastrointestinal causes, pulmonary causes, and cardiovascular causes. EKG interpretation skill is essential, as is medical management of acute coronary syndrome.
Abstract: Primary care healthcare providers often enjoy influential opportunities to prevent disease and promote health. Risk factor identification and reduction/prevention is paramount. Prevention in the primary care or clinical setting can be classified into four categories: counseling, disease screening, immunization, and chemoprophylaxis. Counseling should be on topics that both significantly impact health and on which counseling has proven to improve behavior. Criteria for effective screening are strict, and few diseases qualify. Hypertension is an excellent qualifying example. Immunization includes recommended vaccines throughout life. Chemoprophylaxis means administering medication to prevent disease or maintain health, such as aspirin to prevent coronary artery disease.
Abstract: HIV remains the leading cause of Years Of Life Lost in the world’s poorest nations. Effective means are available to both prevent HIV infection and to effectively treat HIV and AIDS. However, bias and lack of dedicated leadership often obstruct these life-saving interventions from reaching the most marginalized communities. We healthcare leaders must redouble our efforts to overcome these barriers. The ABCs of HIV prevention continue to be an effective message. HIV screening is now more accessible than ever. Prevention of Mother-To-Child HIV transmission is particularly effective if adequate detection and appropriate management are provided. Treatment of HIV and AIDS is facilitated by simpler protocols and more widely available trained personnel.
Learning Objectives:
- Express the magnitude of the malaria challenge
- Provide care for suspected cases of malaria
- Advocate for prevention of malaria
Abstract: Malaria is the sixth leading cause of DALYs lost in the world’s lowest-income nations and has killed more people than all other plagues and all wars in the entire history of the world combined. It is most lethal toward children and pregnant women in Arica. A number of other common disease cause similar symptoms, so the diagnosis should be confirmed with laboratory testing. Rapid diagnostic testing is particularly useful if the pros and cons are understood. Malaria treatment should take into account malaria species, medication availability, local medication resistance patterns, and the clinical status of the patient, including pregnancy and oral tolerance. Treatment requires monitoring for high-risk complications. Vector control is the chief intervention for reducing malaria, and hope remains guarded for an effective malaria vaccine.
Abstract: 98 percent of maternal deaths worldwide occur in low-resource communities, and are almost entirely preventable. System-wide improvements in contraception, prenatal care, and obstetrics hold promise to improve such outcomes. Equipping of midwives and community health workers is an important component. Everyone who delivers babies must recognize the most common obstetrical emergencies, and be able to manage appropriately. This session includes the use of manikins and hands—on skills to increase competency in treating postpartum hemorrhage, shoulder dystocia, and breech presentation.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify cases of suspected TB & leprosy
- Provide care for confirmed cases of TB & leprosy
- Implement DOTS for preventing treatment failures
- Promote strategies for TB & leprosy prevention
Abstract: One-third of the world’s citizens are infected with TB, and 5-10% will sometime develop clinical disease. 95% of cases occur in the poorest nations, and are exacerbated by HIV, malnutrition, and lack of medical care. 80% of TB is pulmonary, and extra-pulmonary TB can occur in any organ. Diagnosis is by identification of acid-fast bacilli, and ideally by TB culture with sensitivity testing. TB and HIV frequent coexist, so vigilance must be maintained. Most countries have well-designed national guidelines for TB management that should be followed. Failure to complete the prescribed course often leads to resistant TB infection. Direct Observed Therapy Short-course (DOTS) is effective in preventing treatment failures. TB prevention focuses on early diagnosis and screening contacts. Progress is active towards more effective TB vaccines. ~ Leprosy continues to be a concern, with some 200,000 new cases each year. Leprosy presents with a spectrum of extremes between tuberculoid leprosy (paucibacillary) and lepromatous leprosy (multibacillary). Diagnosis is by identification of acid-fast bacilli. Leprosy medications are effective, and treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach. Prevention is largely based upon early case-finding and the greatest obstacle to elimination of leprosy continues to be the stigma that those infected are “unclean.”
Todd Franks
INMED Vice President of Operations
Todd Franks gives live presentations that focus on emotional well-being and organizational health.
As they come face-to-face with human suffering, many in the healthcare profession are at risk of suffering from compassion fatigue. This course provides an overview of compassion fatigue along with theoretical and practical principles related to mitigating its effects. Using the example of Christ, participants will be encouraged to continue to serve their patients with compassion and excellence even in the face of mounting pressures and difficulties.
Though we have the technology to facilitate more human-to-human connections than at any time in history, many people lack meaningful relationships. Humans suffer the effects of this lack in both their personal and professional lives. This course explores the importance and benefits of relationships in an out of the workplace while providing practical advice for establishing and maintaining those relationship.
How should an organization structure itself for maximum employee satisfaction and productivity? How can an organization remain flexible as it grows and achieves its mission? Using the examples of successful businesses and not-for-profits, this course explores the role culture plays in an organization’s success. Leaders and non-leaders alike will learn how to create and contribute to workplace culture that promotes maximum achievement.
Scott Armistead
MD, DIMPH
INMED Dean of Faculty
This is a basic course in abdominal/pelvic ultrasound. It assumes that the learners have ultrasound devices and individuals to scan. It covers non-obstetrical ultrasound. The lecturer had extensive experience (10 years) doing ultrasound in a developing world mission hospital context and using ultrasound for diagnostic purposes when other means of imaging were not available.
The work-up of ascites in a LMIC without the availability of expensive imaging and laboratory testing differs from that of a more resource-rich country. This talk looks at the differential diagnoses and workup of unexplained ascites in a developing world context. The case of a particular patient the speaker encountered in Pakistan is presented as is an algorithmic approach to the evaluation of such a patient.
This talk presents two cases:
- Case of a child with fever in an impoverished area of Honduras during the rainy season
- Case of an adult in northern Pakistan presenting with fever
It looks at the various possibilities of causative infectious diseases and elaborates on the specific presentation of these various diseases, the geographical distribution of these diseases and the available work-up of them in a LMIC.
This talk is about the speaker’s person journey in missionary medicine, highlighting the sense of call, the training journey, the 16 years of life and service in northern Pakistan in a mission hospital, the challenges and joys. of raising children there, etc. This is followed by the transition back to the US and involvement with refugee families and medical students. The goal is to share some of the decisions and challenges along the way and to encourage the listeners to consider their own journeys.
This talk presents the basic four principles of Euro-American bioethics – beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, justice – and then critiques these principles from a non Euro-American perspective. Drawing from the writings of an African-American bioethicist, the ethos of Euro-American and African-American culture is specifically contrasted, focusing on three particular areas – a holistic vs dualistic approach, a communal vs individualistic approach, and a theistic vs agnostic/atheistic approach.
This talk starts with the presenters experience of 16 years in northern Pakistan and then his years of involvement with refugees from S. Asia in the US. This is followed by a discussion of what is a refugee, the phases of the story of the refugee, and the global refugee situation n today’s world. There is a focus on some of the specific health challenges of refugee in the US. A review of the standard “newcomer health screen” done for all refugees in the US in health departments across the US is presented.
Timothy Myrick
MD
INMED Board Chair
Dr. Myrick offers a number live presentations on subjects of tropical medicine and healthcare in the Middle East.
Cysticercosis, hydatid disease, elephantiasis, and other helminths invade body tissues, resulting in obstruction, process, and organ failure. These diseases afflict hundreds of millions of persons worldwide. Encouragingly, they can be effectively prevented, diagnosed, and treated. But this process must begin with awareness of these lesser known threats to health.
Mosquitos are easily the most dangerous animal toward human beings, accounting for some half-millions deaths per year. This presentation is a case-based discussion of malaria, yellow fever, dengue, and more human threats transmitted by mosquito vectors, incorporating both prevention and treatment.
Ten million new persons worldwide each year become clinically ill from TB. One-third of humanity is infected – making TB easily the most widespread human infection. This presentation focuses on diagnosis, treatment, and management of this infectious disease in a low-resource communities.
Healthcare today frequently relies for success upon the ability to engage people of diverse race, tradition, values, worldview, and language. This presentation illuminates principles of cross-cultural skills and their application to healthcare and international settings.
Today’s world has more international refugees seeking relief and asylum than at any time since the end of WWII. Eighty-six percent of refugees are hosted in developing countries, severely straining existing social infrastructures. This presentation introduces principles of international refugee care, including the four recognized phases: pre-emergency/mitigation phase, emergency phase, post-emergency/maintenance phase, and the resolution/repatriation phase.
More than two billion self-identify as Muslims worldwide. Their traditions and values are frequently manifested in healthcare settings. This presentation explains how to provide respectful and culturally appropriate care for patients in or from Muslim countries.
Sean Mark
MD, DIMPH
INMED Director Emeritus
Dr. Mark gives inspiring presentations trauma care and emergency medicine, as well as career decision-making.
Developing one’s healthcare career requires wise and strategic decisions. These are even more imperative for those who take the less common journey towards serving people in l0w-resource and international settings. Younger healthcare professionals particularly benefit from counsel on professional training and personal choices from those who already possess significant international healthcare experience.
Emergency medicine is an exciting and fascinating field. But most such emergencies can be mitigated through averting injuries from falls, electrocution, drowning, firearms, and motor vehicles. This enlightened and comprehensive approach to emergency medicine improves health outcomes – which we must remember is the ultimate objective.
Effectively aiding vulnerable people over the long term requires comprehensive preparation. Necessary professional skills often include understanding disease is connected with poverty, attaining cross-cultural skills, and learning to work together as a health leadership team. Necessary personal skills include protecting one’s personal health, family life, and financial condition.
Diane Petrie
FNP-BC, DINPH, AAHIVS
INMED DINPH Graduate
& MIH Student
In a culturally diverse world, Christian nurses are called to demonstrate Christ’s love through compassionate and culturally sensitive care. This session focuses on cultural humility as a lifelong journey of learning and respect, rather than as a fixed goal. Unlike cultural competence, which suggests mastery, cultural humility acknowledges our limitations and invites openness in every interaction. Inspired by Jesus’ example of healing and reconciliation, we will explore how nurses can embody the Gospel while serving vulnerable communities. Participants will view cultural humility as a spiritual discipline that reflects Christ’s love and will engage in discussions to deepen their understanding. Attendees will leave empowered to deliver dignified care that builds trust and shares the hope of the Gospel, fulfilling the Great Commission in both word and deed.
Medical mission trips from high-income countries provide valuable opportunities for healthcare workers to serve and learn within underserved communities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). To create lasting impact, these initiatives must adapt to local needs and embody cultural humility, while ensuring long-term follow-up. There’s a risk of undermining sustainability and disempowering local leaders when external expertise overshadows indigenous knowledge. Thus, culturally responsive, community-driven strategies that empower local leadership are crucial. This breakout will highlight a nurse-led initiative that collaborates with local stakeholders to assess community health needs, leveraging the strengths of international partners to enhance nursing leadership and foster mutual learning before implementing effective health interventions.
In a world of immense and ever-evolving needs, it is crucial to shift our perspectives and approaches towards aid. Together, we will explore creative solutions and fresh perspectives to ensure our efforts make a meaningful impact and truly help those in need. Let’s pave the way for a brighter, healthier future through compassionate and innovative nursing practices.
The landscape of perinatal HIV exposure and infant feeding is ever-evolving. Participants will gain an understanding of the epidemiology of perinatal HIV transmission and examine key strategies for prevention, including comprehensive prenatal care, viral load monitoring, and risk stratification. The session will also review best practices for postnatal management and follow-up of infants exposed to HIV. Finally, it will summarize the latest updates in infant feeding guidelines, highlighting evidence-based approaches that optimize both maternal and infant health outcomes in the context of HIV.
Poverty has a profound and multifaceted impact on children’s physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being. This session equips participants with skills to assess and address the unique health needs of children from impoverished backgrounds, highlighting vulnerabilities related to nutrition, healthcare access, and educational disparities. Attendees will explore strategies to integrate compassionate, holistic care principles into clinical practice and strengthen their role as advocates for child health. Emphasis will be placed on influencing policies that promote equitable healthcare access and improve outcomes for children affected by poverty.
This talk offers an in-depth exploration of tuberculosis (TB) as it affects children and adolescents. This session will review the transmission and pathogenesis of TB, outlining evidence-based approaches to screening and testing for those at risk. Participants will gain an understanding of the core principles of TB treatment and management, with a focus on ensuring timely diagnosis and effective care. The session will also address the social and emotional challenges faced by families undergoing TB treatment, emphasizing the importance of reducing stigma and fostering community support to improve health outcomes.
The percentage of foreign-born children grows annually, and these children face unique medical and psychosocial needs as they and their families resettle in the United States. This session will outline the distinctions among different types of immigrant and refugee populations and review essential medical screening and evaluation practices for newly arrived families. Participants will explore a holistic approach to care that addresses social, emotional, spiritual, and mental health dimensions. Emphasis will be placed on providing culturally competent, sensitive, and humble care, incorporating best practices in health literacy and language access. The session will also highlight local resources and agencies that support families throughout the resettlement process.
The HIV epidemic has had a profound impact on our world. The enduring impact of stigma surrounding HIV and its implications for individuals and communities worldwide. This session will trace the U.S. and global history of HIV, exploring how stigma has evolved over four decades and identifying the social, cultural, and systemic factors that perpetuate it. Participants will gain an understanding of key definitions and contributors to HIV-related stigma, as well as practical tools and resources to address it. Emphasis will be placed on the vital role healthcare providers play as catalysts for change—promoting equity, compassion, and dignity in HIV care and prevention.
We have every tool we need to effectively end the HIV Epidemic. This session will highlight how effective treatment of HIV infection can prevent transmission and examine the global success of efforts to reduce maternal-to-child transmission, resulting in a dramatic decline in pediatric cases. Participants will review the medications used for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and their role in prevention strategies. The discussion will also address the social and legislative barriers that continue to hinder HIV prevention, emphasizing the need for equitable access, advocacy, and sustained public health commitment to achieve true eradication.
The Importance of well-child care transcends culture, language, and location. This talk focuses on the essential principles and practices that support the healthy growth and development of children. This session will explore the concept and importance of comprehensive well-child care, emphasizing regular health check-ups, immunizations, nutrition, and developmental screenings as core components. Participants will examine the role of preventive health measures—including vaccination, food, and anticipatory guidance—in reducing childhood illnesses and promoting long-term wellness. Discussion will also address barriers to effective well-child care, such as socioeconomic challenges, limited healthcare access, and gaps in education. Finally, the session will highlight global initiatives, including the World Health Organization’s Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) strategy, aimed at strengthening child health systems worldwide.
Syphilis is one of the oldest yet persistently challenging infectious diseases. This session will review the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of syphilis, highlighting its concerning resurgence in communities across the United States and globally. Participants will explore factors contributing to the rising rates of infection and the serious implications for public health, particularly the growing number of congenital syphilis cases affecting pregnant individuals and infants. Emphasis will be placed on early detection, prevention, and coordinated care strategies to curb transmission and protect vulnerable populations.
Basic Emergency Care provides an essential foundation for assessing and managing acutely ill or injured patients in any clinical or community setting. This session introduces the key hazards and safety considerations when approaching an emergency scene and emphasizes the structured ABCDE approach to patient assessment. Participants will learn to evaluate and identify critical findings within each component—Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, and Exposure—and apply appropriate, time-sensitive interventions. The course will also cover recognition of life-threatening conditions, pediatric-specific adaptations of the ABCDE method, and the use of the SAMPLE history to gather relevant clinical information. Finally, participants will explore principles of effective handover and patient transfer to ensure continuity and quality of emergency care.
This essential overview of travel medicine for healthcare providers will guide learners through the basic plans for comprehensive pre-travel consultations, including recommended vaccines, prophylactic medications, and key educational points for travelers. The session will also review the most common causes of fever in returning travelers, emphasizing timely recognition and appropriate evaluation. Finally, attendees will gain a practical understanding of the clinical presentation of common travel-related infections, enhancing their ability to provide safe, effective, and informed care for individuals before and after international travel.
Discover a comprehensive overview of HIV care that traces the timeline of the HIV epidemic from its origins to the present, highlighting the ongoing impact of stigma on those affected today. Gain valuable insights into the virology of HIV, understanding the progression of disease, transition dynamics, and how effective treatments influence virus replication. Participants will briefly explore disease staging and confront the significant challenges that remain in the pursuit of effective cure solutions. This knowledge is vital for fostering awareness and driving change in the fight against HIV.
The emergence of the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era marks a significant milestone in the treatment of HIV. Today, the available treatment options are better than ever. This overview of HIV treatment options and best practices will cover the major types of antiretroviral (ARV) medications, provide guidance on what to initiate in specific clinical scenarios, and highlight regimens to avoid. You will gain a foundational understanding of drug selection in cases of viral resistance and explore the basics of antiretroviral therapy for special populations.
Participants will gain a clear understanding of current HIV testing strategies, including diagnostic algorithms and the importance of early detection. The talk will also cover key principles of treatment monitoring—such as viral load and CD4 count tracking—to ensure optimal therapeutic outcomes and identify treatment failure early. Finally, we will briefly discuss prophylaxis for common OIs, emphasizing its role in comprehensive HIV management and improved patient quality of life.
This comprehensive overview of evidence-based strategies to reduce HIV transmission in diverse populations will explore the core methods of HIV prevention, including Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and Treatment as Prevention (TasP), highlighting their roles in different life stages and risk contexts. The session will also review current guidance on managing perinatal HIV exposure to minimize mother-tochild transmission. Finally, we will discuss the principles of shared decision-making around HIV and infant feeding, emphasizing patient-centered care and informed choices within clinical and cultural frameworks.
This talk will examine the unique medical, psychological, and social issues faced by adolescents living with HIV. As young people navigate the complex journey from pediatric to adult care, maintaining adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) becomes a critical determinant of long-term health outcomes. This session will explore the factors influencing adherence, strategies to support sustained engagement in care, and best practices for facilitating a successful transition to adult health services. Additionally, we will address the broader challenges adolescents encounter—including stigma, mental health concerns, and disclosure —highlighting holistic, youth-centered approaches to optimize their well-being and continuity of care.
This engaging, interactive session is designed to test and expand your knowledge of HIV testing, treatment, monitoring, and best practices in HIV care. Through a fun, quiz-style format, participants will review key concepts, reinforce clinical skills, and explore current guidelines that support optimal outcomes for people living with HIV.
The *marked Presentations can be provided in a series, as originally developed, or as individual talks.