PROGRAM STRUCTURE
The Emory Spine Center for Outreach and Medical Education (ESCOME) is based at the Emory Spine Center, Emory University. The ESCOME Advisory Board oversees all matters of international politics, law, program evaluation and business. The ESCOME Medical Board guides site and surgeon selection, professional society relationships, outcomes research and the core curriculum. The China Advisory Board, consisting of leading Chinese spine physicians, provides the direct link in China for partner surgeon applications and support for the entire training process.
Mentor faculty for training will consist of selected near-retirement experts from premiere specialty societies in North America. Emory faculty will also provide key support in areas such as international education (Holli Semetko, Ph.D.,Claus M. Halle Institute for Global Learning), outcomes research (Kimberly Rask, M.D., Ph.D., Rollins School of Public Health), and institutional relations (the Carter Center and the Institute for Developing Nations). ESCOME will have a separate Foundation to provide for sustained long range financial support and matching grants for selected developing center needs.
There are eight key components to the ESCOME program:
1) The Emory Spine Center for Outreach and Medical Education (ESCOME), based at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, is housed at the Emory Spine Center and operates under the Department of Orthopaedics, the School of Medicine, and the Global Health Institute at Emory University. The ESCOME Executive Director, Dr. William Horton of the Emory Spine Center, and a full time staff coordinate and oversee all accredited training programs and relationships between mentors and partnering surgeons.
2) Emory University provides the training site and academic accreditation for ESCOME courses. The university will also provide support for the Medical and Advisory Boards and key support in related areas of international law, business, political science, and language translation. Joint research in both medical and non-medical disciplines will also be undertaken for both program evaluation and outcome analysis.
3) Corporate Sponsorship provides technical and medical education support for all courses as well as operating equipment and implants necessary to perform educational steps during the course. Corporate grants for educational and research expenses of the mentoring and partnering surgeons, as well as shared support for Medical Board and Advisory Board functions are required.
4) Medical Board consists of three U.S. physicians, one medical education specialist, one Emory international public health expert, and three ad hoc members specific to the partnering country. This board will advise ESCOME on the medical aspects of the program, including partnering site selection, physician selection, curriculum, and program evaluations (internal and external).
5) Advisory Board consists of eight members, including two international medical specialists, the ESCOME Director, one Emory Healthcare and one major donor representative, and four independent experts in law, business, China affairs and political science. This board will guide the ESCOME in social, legal, political, and economic issues relevant to partnering countries and cities. Additionally, the Advisory Board will oversee financial relationships and commitments between ESCOME and partner sites, as well as the ESCOME Foundation.
6) China Advisory Board is the critical voice of Chinese physicians throughout the program. This geographically diverse 18-member board of leading Chinese spine surgeons is chaired by Dr. Qiu Guixing and serves as the primary liaison for partner selection, curriculum, fundraising in China, and relationships with the Chinese government and Ministry of Health.
7) ESCOME Foundation enables philanthropic support for the ESCOME mission of providing international spine training and care for un-served or under-served populations. Contributions will be from private donors, endowments, partnering countries and foundations who wish to support this critical international health care program in developing countries. Funds may be used to support education, ESCOME expenses, address local needs or as matching grants for partnering hospitals or physicians. Particular attention will be focused towards the outreach component of the ESCOME mission including mentoring expenses, and “on the ground” equipment or expenses that may otherwise hinder the establishment of a self-sustaining center.
8) Mentor Faculty will be selected from highly experienced spine surgeons who are near retirement or recently retired with the expertise and time to commit to a sustained relationship with two younger colleagues from overseas. Faculty will come from the North American Spine Society (NASS), the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS), the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery (AAOS), the American Academy of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and others. The ESCOME Executive Director and the Emory Spine Center faculty will be consistently contributing as well. Collaboration with appropriate professional societies in partnering countries will also be fostered. Additionally, many other spine experts in the US are supporting the program through their generous donations of curriculum materials (e.g. Drs. Harry Shufflebarger, Larry Lenke, Steve Ondra, Rusty Rodts, Dave Polly, John Heller, John Dimar, and many others).
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