Navigating the challenges of establishing a new residency program in anatomic pathology based on the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education International standards in the post–Soviet era Kazakhstan: strategies and successes
Tanko N.M. Pignatelli M. DeFrances M.C. Dhir R.
1 April 2024Association of Pathology Chairs
Academic Pathology
2024#11Issue 2
In 1991, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, newly independent Kazakhstan faced challenges of a healthcare system in transition. Anatomic pathology practice remains one of the least developed medical specialties in Kazakhstan. Acute shortage of pathologists is a universal phenomenon. There is no subspecialty pathology practice as yet. Residency programs in anatomic pathology are found only in a few tertiary health institutions in the big cities. Nazarbayev University School of Medicine was established in 2015 to reform medical education in Kazakhstan. Prior to this time, in 2010, Nazarbayev University was established to lead higher education reforms in the country. Each school in Nazarbayev University was paired with an international partner to jump-start its trajectory to excellence. Establishing a new residency program in anatomic pathology based on a western pedagogy was a new innovation that needed multi-level stakeholder consultation and support. In partnership with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and its hospital system, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, we established the first residency program in anatomic pathology based on the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education International standards in Central Asia. We have identified 5 strategic approaches that led to our rapid success, including targeted strategic partnership; robust engagement with the local stakeholders; adoption and contextualizing of an existing pedagogy; ensuring adequate and fit-for-purpose infrastructure; and organizational restructuring and optimization. We hope that these suggestions will be translatable to help those facing the arduous but exciting task of establishing a new residency program from scratch.
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education International (ACGME-I) , Anatomic pathology , Challenges , Kazakhstan , Residency , Successes
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Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Clinical Academic Department of Laboratory Medicine, Pathology and Genetics, University Medical Center, Astana, Kazakhstan
School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Nazarbayev University Medicine, Astana, Kazakhstan
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh PA, United States
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh PA, United States
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburgh PA, United States
Department of Medicine
Clinical Academic Department of Laboratory Medicine
School of Medicine
Nazarbayev University Medicine
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
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