National Consultant for the Project Continuing Medical Education (CME) Distance Learning in HIV

Recruitment for a National Consultant for the Project Continuing Medical Education (CME) Distance Learning in HIV
(Anticipated start date of 01 November 2011 to end of March 2012 with a possibility of extension)
The University of Washington has been engaged to support the Ministry of Health (MOH) Department of Science and Training (DST) as it develops a strategy for Continuing Medical Education (CME) across Vietnam, and to assist Hue College of Medicine and Pharmacy (HCMP) in developing HIV CME online electronic distance learning coursework. This project is funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Description of MOH/DST: The MOH is the government ministry responsible for the state governance and guidance on the healthcare and health protection of the Vietnamese people. The Department of
Science and Training (DST) is under the MOH, and is responsible for advising and supporting the MOH in management of scientific activities, technology development in heath sector and training, and
monitoring of health professionals throughout the country.
Description of the HCMP: The mission of HCMP is to develop medical and pharmaceutical human resources at the undergraduate and graduate levels; to conduct scientific research and apply results to the educational mission; and to meet the health care demands and protection of people across the country.
Description of CDC-PEPFAR: The CDC-PEPFAR project was developed in response to funding opportunity No. CDC-RFA-910 of the CDC on the development of a strategy for CME across Vietnam, and to revise Circular 07/2008/TT-BYT, the MOH policy governing CME. CDC Vietnam is one of the four US government agencies implementing PEPFAR, the largest bilateral HIV program in Vietnam.
CDC works primarily with government institutions to provide funding and technical assistance to deliver quality HIV prevention, care and treatment services as well as health systems strengthening
projects that address the country’s needs in human resources and the health workforce, health information systems, health financing, governance and biomedical technology.
Objective of project: to assist HCMP to develop a variety of different electronic distance learning approaches to HIV CME learning that can be applied to CME learning in other medical subjects.
Distance learning and e-learning are approaches that are relatively new in Vietnam, and will help provide scalable reach for national CME programs. Use of distance e-learning on a national scale for CME is feasible in Vietnam, thanks to a strong university system and comprehensive communications technology networks.
Project Implementation Strategy:
- Collect and organize HIV clinical training content from academic institutions and national and international non-governmental organizations (NGO) in Vietnam;
- Assess and evaluate HIV clinical training content as CME in relation to the needs of doctors who have received basic training in HIV medicine and are delivering HIV care in Vietnam;
- Collaborate with HCMP to produce 24 hours of online HIV CME on a website in an asynchronous format that builds capacity at Hue and serves as an informative pilot for national CME planning, with particular attention to planning an approach that is scalable to serve a large number of participants and develops core knowledge, skills and competencies.
Project duration: November 2011 – March 2012 (with a possible extension through June 2012 and beyond dependent on donor funding and project needs)
Project site locations: Hanoi, with potential travel based on project needs

Job description:
The National Consultant will work approximately half-time (20 hours per week) to perform the following tasks and responsibilities:
- Plan and oversee execution of project to develop 24 hours of HIV CME content in Vietnamese;
- Work with the HCMP to ensure that the project achieves its objectives and is effective;
- Work with the academic institutions, international and local NGOs, governmental agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure that the project achieves its objectives and is effective;
- Collect HIV clinical training content from academic institutions, governmental agencies, and national and international NGOs in Vietnam;
- Review and assess HIV clinical training content towards the development of the 24 hours of HIV CME content;
- Coordinate, develop, and edit 24 hours of HIV CME material in Vietnamese that will be put into an e-learning and online format;
- Create HIV content for CME through lecture, writing, and/or development of case studies;
- Identify and work with Vietnamese lecturers and speakers to deliver HIV CME through lecturing, writing or recording;
- Assess the HIV CME training needs of Vietnamese medical doctors
- Translate HIV CME content from English into Vietnamese and vice versa as needed;
- Work with the technological leads to ensure that HIV CME content remains accurate, educational, and effective during e-learning development;
- Communicate and coordinate with the HCMP on the implementation, development, and maintenance of the online HIV CME;
- Perform any other duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the Team Leader.

Qualifications i.e. education, working experience, languages and skills:
All applicants are instructed to address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item.
- Medical Doctor degree;
- Significant (at least 3 years) HIV treatment / training experience in Vietnam;
- Background and/or familiarity with CME initiatives and principles and strategy behind development of CME initiative
- Background in computer science, computer programming, and online education learning is not required but a significant added benefit
- Strong leadership skills and the ability to independently move complex project deliverables forward in a timely fashion
- Skills in relationship building
- Skills in coordination and communication
- Skills in MS Office
- Language requirements - Speaking/Reading/Writing Vietnamese is required; Level 4 (Fluent)
- Speaking/Reading/Writing English is required (this will be tested)

Salary and other benefits: The base rate for this consultancy is calculated according to cost norms agreed upon CDC and the Government of Vietnam. From US$24 to US$48 per four-hour work day,
negotiable based on experience, qualifications, and effort committed towards this project.
Guidance for Application:
Interested candidates for this position must submit the following in English or the application will not be considered.
a. Cover letter with 3 references
b. Curriculum vitae with photo
SUBMIT EMAIL APPLICATIONS (COVER LETTER AND CV) TO: [email protected]
All applications must state the position to which you are applying to in the subject line of the email.
Only applications received in soft copy will be reviewed.
Note: Applications will not be returned for non-selected candidates
CLOSING DATE FOR THIS POSITION: Close of Business (17h00), October 28, 2011 – Vietnamese time