This collaborative initiative led by Dr. Rishi Mediratta, MD, MSc, MA, aims to improve emergency room care for children with pneumonia in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by identifying and addressing systemic issues impacting care. The effort seeks to help address a leading cause of death for children under five in the country by creating an equitable, timely, and effective standard for improved pediatric healthcare in low-resource settings. Researchers plan to foster partnerships between local and international experts and gather the perspectives of families, providers, and administrators to inform the development of quality emergency care measures for children with pneumonia. By ensuring the measures are consensus-driven and context-specific, this approach seeks to standardize care, enhance accountability, and ultimately save the lives of many children.

“We aim to create a model for healthcare improvement that is both practical and enduring. This project addresses a critical health issue and fosters collaboration among parents, healthcare providers, and government and hospital administrators, ensuring solutions are rooted in the needs of children and their communities,” said Principal Investigator Dr. Mediratta. “We envision this work inspiring further innovations in healthcare delivery, ultimately leading to healthier futures for children worldwide, and we hope our research will empower healthcare systems and professionals, promoting resilience and self-sufficiency.”

Principal Investigators:

Rishi Mediratta, MD, MSc, MA, Clinical Associate Professor, Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine

Research Team:

Lulu Muhe, MD, PhD, Professor, Addis Ababa University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health; C. Jason Wang, MD, PhD, Director of the Center for Policy, Outcomes and Prevention, LCY Tan Lan Lee Professor, Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics; Michael Gisondi, MD, Professor, Vice Chair of Education, Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine; Sylvia Merrell, MS, DrPH, Research Scholar, Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics; Chris Rees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine; Mirgissa Kaba, PhD, Associate Professor, Addis Ababa University School of Public Health, Department of Preventive Medicine; Muluwork Tefera, MD, Associate Professor, Addis Ababa University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health; Tigist Bacha, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health; Amanuel Moges, MD, General Practitioner, Addis Ababa School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health; Vaishnavi Bhamidi, MS Candidate, Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology

Funders:

Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health, Stanford Maternal and Child Health Research Institute, Stanford School of Medicine Dean’s Office