Some of the largest causes of death in intensive care units can be averted if providers have the necessary high-quality training and effective treatment strategies. Such strategies can help providers recognize and manage challenges such as sepsis, stroke, and kidney failure before they become fatal. Recognizing a gap in global initiatives to strengthen integrated critical care, Dr. Andrea Comiskey, MD, and her co-Principal Investigator Dr. Ana Crawford, MD, MSc, FASA, created the Stanford Foundations in Critical Care seminar series. These seminars will offer healthcare providers case-based discussions, curated trainings, and interactive sessions. This multidisciplinary approach will emphasize collaboration across diverse clinical specialties, with the goal of improving providers’ confidence, broadening their skill sets, and ultimately enhancing clinical outcomes. By leveraging virtual platforms and global professional networks, Foundations in Critical Care will allow healthcare providers worldwide, regardless of geographical location or resource availability, to have access to high-quality critical care education and training.

By using this model, researchers hope to improve clinician knowledge and confidence, leading to better outcomes regardless of geographic location or resource availability.

“This enhanced knowledge and confidence among providers will translate into better care practices and improved clinical outcomes, thus advancing health equity on a global scale,” said Dr. Comiskey.

Principal Investigators:

Andrea Comiskey, MD, Critical Care Fellow, Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine

Ana Maria Crawford, MD, MSc, FASA, Director of Global Engagement Strategy, Clinical Associate Professor, Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine

Research Team:

Rachael Kimani, MBChB, MMed, MSc, Consultant Anesthesiologist, Mbagathi Hospital (Nairobi, Kenya), Department of Anesthesiology; Eugene Tuyishime, MBBS, MMed, MSc, Consultant Anesthesiologist, University of Rwanda, Department of Anesthesiology; Rebecca Walker, MD, MPH, Clinical Associate Professor, Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine; Thomas Weiser, MD, Clinical Professor, Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Surgery; Danielle C. Davakis, Nurse Practitioner, Stanford; Hena Waseem, MD, Neurologist, Critical Care Fellow, Stanford University School of Medicine; Eddie Owino, Nurse, Stanford, Intensive Care Unit; Sammy Ghassan Mehtar, MD, Resident, Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine; Sarah Doe-Williams, MD, Resident, Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine; Samy Bendjemil, MD, MPH, Surgeon, Critical Care Fellow, Stanford University School of Medicine; Rodrigo Rubio, Anesthesiologist, Mexico; Alhassan Datti, Anesthesiologist, Nigeria; Farai Matzimbamuto, Anesthesiologist, Botswana; Ninza Sheyo, Anesthesiologist, Lesotho; Amos Zacharia, Anesthesiologist, Tanzania; Fredy Ariza, Anesthesiologist, Colombia; Mua Arasi, Anesthesiologist, Samoa; Ananya Abate, Anesthesiologist, Ethiopia

Funders:

Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health, Stanford Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine