Sites: Vitória, Brazil
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Location: Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil Facility: Hopsital das Clinicas, teaching hospital of Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo Academic Affiliation: Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo Site Preceptor: Professor Reynaldo Dietze, Director of the Institute of Infectious Diseases (NDI), Co-Editor of the Brazilian Textbook of Infectious Diseases, Vice-President of the Brazilian tropical Medicine Society, Director of Leishmania Research for Brazil |
Background: The collaboration between Duke University and the Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES) began in 1989 when Dr. Corey and Dr. Reynaldo Dietze began a physician exchange program between the universities. Since then, over 40 Duke residents have had the opportunity to spend three to six months in Vitória while over 20 Brazilian residents have worked and studied at Duke University. In addition, Professor Dietze has worked with Dr. Corey and other Duke researchers to complete projects in malaria, leishmania, tuberculosis, and ricketsial diseases. The UFES is the public university for Espírito Santo and is located in Jardim de Pena, Vitória. The teaching hospital (called Hopsital das Clinicas by the local people) and medical school are located in Maruipe. UFES is part of the federally funded health care system which guarantees care to Brazilians. |
Clinical Opportunities: The medical center at UFES contains a 250-bed inpatient facility with a large infectious disease unit and many outpatient clinics including HIV, leishmania, and dermatology (including leprosy). Every month, the Department of Dermatology takes a group of medical students to the interior of Espírito Santo to provide free dermatology screening for the immigrant German and Italian populations in the mountains. In addition to the outreach services, there are many rural clinics in the region worth visiting to begin to understand the huge health care disparities among Brazilians. |
Research: Research efforts in Brazil have centered on both clinical and basic science research in HIV, TB, leishmania, schistosomiasis, and malaria. There are excellent opportunities to understand the microbiologic, pathologic, clinical, and socioeconomic aspects of rare tropical diseases by assisting or observing in one of Dr. Dietze's projects. Dietze has been successful in securing funds to support these research programs from organizations such as the WHO, NIH, the State Government of Espírito Santo, and the federal government of Brazil. |