Changes

= Overview =

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To accomplish their goals EWH has a focus on two main program branches.&nbsp; The first is the [http://www.ewh.org/programs/chapters student programs] which includes university Chapters, Kit builds, STEM volunteer teaching, the annual Design Competition, and the Summer Institute.&nbsp; These programs raise awareness of how biomedical engineering can help solve global health challenges, and they work to engage the skills of engineering students from around the world to educate others and repair life-saving medical equipment in places like Rwanda, Tanzania, and Nicaragua.&nbsp;

The other side of the EWH organization is the [http://www.ewh.org/programs/bmet-training-program BMET Training programs]. In collaboration with local partners in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, they create professional training programs that build in-country, self-sustaining bodies of biomedical engineering technicians (BMETs).&nbsp; They work closely with local Ministries of Health, public hospitals, universities, and local engineers and doctors in order to build the network needed to sustain these training programs after the projects leave.&nbsp; The BMET Training programs are based on a 3 year curriculum developed in partnership with Duke University and then tailored to each country’s needs. Engineering World Health sets up the programs but the ultimate goal is to turn them over to the local educators. &nbsp;

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= Purpose =

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In exchange for an annual fee to support the local chapter, the EWH provides comprehensive packages of financial benefits, guidance on how to operate a chapter and manage numerous activities that are interesting, fun and beneficial to the community as well as technical support throughout the year. Chapter members are also eligible for consideration for travel awards to participate in joint activities with other chapters either domestically or in developing countries.

At University of California San Diego (UCSD) the EWH chapter is working in collaboration with the&nbsp;[http://cfar.ucsd.edu/ UCSD Center for AIDS Research] and designing cost-effective lab equipment to run an HIV treatment analysis assay in resource limited settings. This nucleic acid test is used to detect drug resistant forms of HIV. By introducing methods of treatment surveillance to the developing world, the hope is to contain the spread of drug-resistant forms of HIV and preserve second and third lines of anti-retroviral medication. EWH at UCSD has begun work to design automated devices for viral RNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) DNA amplification, and gel electrophoresis. &nbsp; &nbsp;

At Duke University, EWH affiliate student team spent the summer in Guatemala where they helped hospitals and clinics repair medical equipment at the National Hospital de Quetzaltenango in Xela. &nbsp;“The goal of the trip was to help a poor hospital in Guatemala repair and maintain their medical equipment,” said Robert Malkin, founder and director of Duke-Engineering World Health.&nbsp;The students worked as a team on all the projects. They took turns diagnosing issues, repairing equipment, cleaning equipment and keeping records of all the equipment they worked on.

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=== 2012-2013 Student Chapters ===

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Submit a Chapter Agreement and Chapter Roster for approval by EWH headquarters. The Chapter Agreement is slightly different for student-funded and university-funded chapters.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Plan activities in the first semester or first year

Other students who become members of the chapter are encouraged to become EWH Affiliates in order to qualify for additional benefits. Chapters typically raise funds or secure grants from their school to cover these costs and/or support other chapter activities.

Chapters can select the&nbsp;[http://www.ewh.org/programs/chapters/university-funded-ewh-chapters university-funded]&nbsp;option. In this case, the university or department pays an annual fee for a package of benefits, including EWH Affiliations for 10 students and reduced fees for EWH conferences and design competitions. We recommend that chapter presidents discuss details of university affiliation with their faculty advisor.</div>

= Contact Information =

Make use of the built in contact form provided by Engineering World Health found on their [http://www.ewh.org/who-are-we/contact-us Contact Page] or contact them directly at [mailto:info@ewh.org info@ewh.org].