News

Healthcare professionals, students, educators, and global health leaders gathered for the Rwanda-Jefferson Day conference, hosted by the University of Rwanda’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences (UR-CMHS). The event celebrated the power of bidirectional exchange between UR and Thomas Jefferson University (USA), highlighting 18 years of impactful collaboration in healthcare education.

Held under the theme “Bridging Borders in Healthcare, Strengthening Global Learning,” the conference served as a platform to reflect on shared experiences, recognize key contributions, and exchange best practices. This long-standing partnership allows Jefferson students to participate in a one-month public health education program in Rwanda, engaging in community health initiatives alongside their Rwandan peers. In turn, UR students undertake a two-month clinical observership at Jefferson, gaining valuable experience in a diverse healthcare environment.

The conference was officiated by UR’s Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance, Dr. Françoise Kayitare, who emphasized the importance of broadening the partnership to include academic programs beyond the field of medicine.

Since 2007, the exchange has strengthened professional ties, enhanced cross-cultural learning, and contributed to global health equity. To date, more than 115 students and faculty from Jefferson and over 45 students, researchers, and faculty from UR have taken part in the program.

During the event, partners also discussed future directions and explored ways to expand knowledge-sharing opportunities. The program’s success over the years has been largely supported by funding from Thomas Jefferson University. Going forward, participants expressed the need to explore additional co-funding strategies to ensure the program’s long-term sustainability.