A partnership between Michigan State University and the Yucatan Department of Health is providing both parties with opportunities to exchange knowledge, new scientific discoveries and - most importantly - open the door to research collaboration. As a first step in the partnership, MSU physician and assistant professor Dr. Jake Rowan will relocate to Merida, Mexico for a year. He will be working directly with the medical staff at University Hospital Augustin O'Horan in Merida.

Once on the ground, Dr. Rowan will start to build relationships with his colleagues and then eventually go to work in the hospital's new medical clinic. Dr. Rowan will be the first doctor of osteopathic medicine licensed to treat patients in the State of Yucatan.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to expand the profession of osteopathic medicine, build professional relationships and assess new opportunities for clinical rotations for our medical students," said Rowan.

In a hosiptal in Malawi, University Distinguished Professor of internal medicine Terrie Taylor has created an example Rowan hopes to follow. "Our medical students who work with Dr. Taylor in Malawi learn about malaria, but they also learn about working with people of different cultures and different approaches to patient care. These are great experiences for our students," he said.

Reza Nassiri, director of MSU's Institute of International Health and associate dean of Global Health in the College of Osteopathic Medicine said, "In Merida both sides will get to work closely with each other on health related matters, such as infectious diseases, environmental health issues and rapid point-of-care diagnosis, leveraging their progress to address the health challenges of Mesoamerica."

Nassiri said the main objective is to learn. "This is not mission work. Mexico has a well developed health care system that can provide a unique educational opportunity for our students," said Nassiri. In the long-run we hope to conduct research together."

The strategic partnership between the college and Yucatan Department of Health began with the installation of a 23-patient capacity hyperbaric chamber at the University Hospital Augustin O'Horan. The triple lock chamber measures 54 feet by 10 feet, and is the first of its kind in Latin America.

The chamber allows the medical use of oxygen at a level higher than atmospheric pressure and will be used in treatments of trauma, burns, stroke, wound healing, palliative care, and toxicology.

"Our hope is to establish the O'Horan Hospital clinic as an elective rotation site for our students and medical residents," said Rowan. In the process of sharing the principles behind osteopathic medicine, Nassiri and Rowan see tremendous opportunity to enhance patient care in Merida.

"Osteopathic principles such as focusing on the patient rather than the disease and the importance of human touch in diagnosis and treatment of the patient can be wonderful tools to a physician no matter the country or culture," said Rowan.