How Does Ptolemy Work?
Electronic media were introduced to East African surgeons in 2001. The Office of International Surgery at the University of Toronto has provided hands-on training on using these media to East African surgeons, as well as to the current trainees studying to take exams to become fellows or members of COSECSA. COSECSA candidates and surgical trainees are a prime target audience for Ptolemy, we believe, because those who learn to read the literature at an early stage in their careers are more likely to play leading roles in promoting education, research, and training in their regions. Surgeons in East Africa who want to sign up for Ptolemy download the registration and consent forms from the Ptolemy Web site and submit these to the Ptolemy coordinator in Tanzania or the Office of International Surgery in Toronto. The criteria to become a Ptolemy participant are shown in Box 1. The Ptolemy Project also offers a reading course called “Surgery in Africa”, which is designed as a pilot project
