The Cassell Family Bidirectional Training Program—empowered by the generous support of Ralph Cassell, Dr. Gail Cassell, and Dr. Cynthia Cassell—had its first major milestone in advancing global health initiatives and medical training in Peru with the launch of its first collaborative workshop. This program focuses on the bidirectional training of physicians in a global health fellowship through the UAB Mary Heersink Institute for Global Health and Partners in Health (PIH), known locally as Socios En Salud, in Lima, Peru.

Leaders from UAB and Socios En Salud have been actively engaged in dynamic and strategic discussions to operationalize the vision of the Cassell Bidirectional Training Program, leading to the decision to focus the program's initial phase on post-tuberculous lung disease.

In partnership with the Peruvian Ministry of Health, Socios En Salud assembled a panel of national pulmonary experts to develop standardized care guidelines tailored to the Peruvian context. Cassell Family Bidirectional Training Program co-directors, German Henostroza, M.D., professor in the UAB Division of Infectious Diseases, and Matt Heimann, M.D., associate professor in the UAB Department of Emergency Medicine and associate director for MHIGH, brought Rolando Sanchez, M.D., clinical professor of Internal Medicine-Pulmonary, Critical Care and Occupational Medicine at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, to help facilitate the focus groups. Additionally, an independent Peruvian discussion facilitator was engaged to ensure structured and meaningful dialogue.

The result was a two-day workshop in Lima, Peru, bringing together pulmonology experts from eight regions of Peru, representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Peruvian Association of Pulmonologists, Socios En Salud, and UAB.

“We had the opportunity to interact with colleagues from other places, and each of the colleagues brought their experience from different organizations and the problems they encounter day by day,” said Sanchez. “It was a group of very motivated providers trying to give their best opinion and experience.”

The conference ran seamlessly and featured collaboration, productive debate, and well-organized discussion with a carefully crafted agenda, ultimately bringing together information that will prove essential for developing the Protocol for the Management of Post-Tuberculosis Lung Disease.

“It is beautiful to see [that] there are private donors willing to contribute funds with the goal of improving the health conditions in many countries outside of the U.S.,” said Sanchez. “The experience itself was phenomenal.”

Following the meeting, the Cassell Family Bidirectional Training Program will facilitate the exchange of a UAB trainee to Socios En Salud in Lima, continuing the momentum of mutual learning and clinical collaboration that defines the program.

“We are eager to discuss the next steps for our continued collaboration, specifically regarding the application of the protocol and the potential for bidirectional professional training,” said Romina Llanos Córdova, leader of National and International Volunteers for Socios En Salud.