Tallinn Hospital Partnership Closes

The partnership program established in 1994 between George Washington University Medical Center (Washington, DC) and Tallinn Central and Mustamäe Hospitals (Tallinn, Estonia) formally ended on September 30 of this year. The graduation will be observed in Tallinn Town Hall, Sunday October 20 at 2:30 p.m., where participants involved in the program will come together to review and celebrate its achievements. In the ceremony, speakers will include U.S. Ambassador to Estonia Lawrence P. Taylor, Chancellor Jaan Rüütmann, Professor of Medicine Robert Shesser, Chief of Mustamäe Hospital Teet Lainevee, and Chief Doctor of Tallinn Central Hospital Andrus Mäesalu.

Over the two-year life of the partnership, over 80 exchange visits were held involving 150 participants, both Americans visiting Tallinn and Estonians visiting Washington. A series of management and clinical workshops were offered by American and Estonian personnel which focused on a wide range of hazardous materials. On the Estonian side, in addition to the partner hospitals, a total of 42 additional health facilities, agencies and government institutions participated in training and conference activities.

A major outcome of the exchange program has been the creation of strong relations between Americans and Estonians, which will continue even after the termination of the funding.

The Washington/Tallinn Partnership program was funded by the Agency for International Health Alliance (AIHA) which has 45 similar partnerships throughout Central and Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union. For further information please call (372)-2-524 971, Chief of Mustamäe Hospital Teet Lainevee