Establishing a global medical physics graduate clinical training and development program in Ghana: A model for global health international education and collaboration.

PURPOSE: The Global Medical Physics Training and Development Program (GMPTDP) is a novel initiative that provides United States (US)-based graduate students in medical physics with structured, immersive clinical training in Ghana.

METHODS

The five-week program begins with a cultural and clinical orientation in the US, followed by 4 weeks of clinical rotations across leading Ghanaian medical institutions. During rotations, students gain experience with teletherapy (LINACs and cobalt-60), brachytherapy, treatment planning, imaging, and more. Trainees participate in clinical activities, conduct collaborative projects, and engage in community outreach and cultural immersion. The program culminates in a symposium highlighting student experiences and future directions with speakers including physicists, oncologists, engineers, and policymakers.

RESULTS

The pilot year of the program was successfully completed by three students from May 28 2024-July 2 2024. This article outlines the development, structure, and implementation of GMPTDP as a replicable model for global health training in medical physics, emphasizing sustainable partnerships between high-income and low- and middle-income countries. Educational objectives include demonstrating effective cross-border training models, fostering collaborative research, and expanding global clinical experience in the field of medical physics.

CONCLUSIONS

A model for a global medical physics training program was developed and successfully implemented.