The Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration in Emergency Medicine (TAAAC-EM) is an educational partnership between the University of Toronto (U of T) and Addis Ababa University (AAU). Established in 2010, its intention was to foster the development of Ethiopia's first Emergency Medicine (EM) Residency Program, and to continue to support the growth of the specialty.

This commitment has led to the graduation of Ethiopia's first cohorts of emergency physicians, beginning in October 2013, and the development of additional residency training programs at institutions across Ethiopia. The goal of TAAAC-EM is to assist in the graduation of a self-sustaining critical mass of Emergency Medicine leaders at AAU who will continue to train future generations of Ethiopians, and grow emergency medicine expertise throughout the country and East Africa.

TAAAC-EM sends visiting faculty and residents from U of T to teach and clinically mentor Ethiopian EM residents 3 times per year. Teaching trips cover a longitudinal, three-year curriculum through didactic teaching sessions, practical seminars, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), simulation, and bedside clinical supervision. Each trip consists of two U of T faculty and one senior postgraduate resident.

TAAAC-EM also supports Ethiopian EM physicians through curriculum design and development, operational research and support, and continuing professional development and leadership initiatives.

For more information about TAAAC-EM, please contact: Hannah Girdler, Program Manager (hgirdler@gemcentre.ca).

For more information about the broader TAAAC partnership visit: the TAAAC website.