Aberdeen University is teaming up with RGU to lead an international conference focusing on the challenges faced by rural healthcare.
The Converge Rural Healthcare Symposium 2021 was created to tackle these issues through education and workforce preparation.
It will take place virtually on Wednesday October 27.
Academics from the two Aberdeen universities are working in collaboration with those from Augusta University and the University of Georgia in the US.
It is believed that the healthcare challenges faced by rural communities in the UK and US, such as access and recruitment, are similar.
The aim of the virtual event is to use collaborative and innovative training methods to provide better care, even in places where resources are limited.
Laura Chalmers, head of the Centre for Collaborative and Interprofessional Practice at RGU and co-chairwoman of the Converge Curriculum committee, said: “The Converge symposium is essential to bring expertise together to shape the future through the lens of education for the workforce, share best practices, and determine collaborations.
“We welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively with health experts on both sides of the Atlantic to enhance healthcare and intend this to be the foundation for future partnerships that will impact our communities for the better.”
Similar challenges
The Converge event will feature a series of presentations and discussions which aim to address access to care, experiential learning and connectivity challenges.
There are also hopes that the event will act as a catalyst for more international collaboration.
Ms Chalmers explained the similarities between the challenges faced in each country, especially in the current climate.
She added: “Remote and rural healthcare in Scotland and US share many similar significant challenges.
“Not only does geography, access to care, digital connectivity and workforce retention and recruitment contribute to the complex situation, but Covid-19 has disrupted an already stretched, complicated system.”
“Only the beginning”
It is not only staff who will be involved in the collaboration.
Students from Gray’s School of Art at RGU and Augusta University will work together to develop artworks portraying their experiences of the event.
Journalism students from RGU will also have a hands-on role, hosting a press conference after the symposium.
Professor James N’Dow, chairman in surgery at Aberdeen University, said the event is only the beginning of a wider attempt to improve healthcare challenges.
He explained: “There are currently many barriers to access and delivery of quality care.
“The Converge symposium is only the beginning; from there we look to strengthen the collaboration through staff/student exchanges, exchange programmes, PhD studentships and the establishment of other high quality research programmes aimed at improving quality of care in remote and rural settings.”