Children's Mercy Global Partnerships Advance Neonatal, Critical Care and Bioethics Education in Ethiopia

Physicians from Children’s Mercy continue to strengthen international collaborations that support pediatric specialty training, bioethics education and critical care development in Ethiopia while fostering shared learning that benefits clinicians in both countries. 

For more than a decade, Stephanie Kukora, MD, neonatologist and Director of Scholarship in the Bioethics Center, has partnered with colleagues at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC) in Addis Ababa to help expand neonatal training opportunities and quality improvement efforts. Through collaborations with the Vermont Oxford Network and nonprofit partners, the team supported the development of a neonatal intensive care fellowship program that is helping strengthen specialized neonatal care capacity across Ethiopia. 

More recently, Anik Patel, MD, FAAP, Pediatric Emergency Medicine physician and Global Health Associate Program Director, has contributed to the development of Ethiopia’s first Pediatric Emergency Medicine-Pediatric Intensive Care (PEM-PICU) fellowship at SPHMMC. The program has already graduated its first cohort of fellows, representing a significant milestone in pediatric critical care training within the country.

The partnership also includes participation by Ethiopian physicians in Children’s Mercy’s Pediatric Bioethics Certificate Program. During a recent visit to Addis Ababa, Drs. Kukora and Patel collaborated with local physicians through educational sessions, bioethics seminars and simulation-based training. The visit provided opportunities to strengthen existing relationships, support trainees and exchange clinical expertise with colleagues working in resource-constrained environments. 

Clinicians from both institutions report that the collaboration has become a valuable source of shared learning. Ethiopian physicians bring extensive experience caring for critically ill children despite equipment and supply limitations, while Children’s Mercy faculty contribute expertise in neonatal medicine, emergency care, critical care education and bioethics. These exchanges have helped identify innovative approaches to clinical practice, quality improvement and resource stewardship. 

As the partnership continues to grow, Children’s Mercy faculty are exploring additional opportunities for multidisciplinary engagement, including expanded educational exchanges involving nursing, respiratory therapy and other clinical specialties. Ongoing collaborative work in neonatal medicine, pediatric critical care and bioethics is expected to continue through virtual teaching, trainee participation and joint scholarly activities. 

This international collaboration reflects Children’s Mercy’s commitment to advancing pediatric specialty care through education, mentorship and global partnerships while supporting the development of sustainable training programs that improve outcomes for children worldwide.