Trainee to trainer!

Ms Pauline Mukura is a Surveillance Officer in Papua New Guinea’s National Malaria Control Program. Pauline was a fellow in the 2015 cohort of the Field Epidemiology Training in Papua New Guinea (FETPNG) program and has recently become Junior Faculty on the Intermediate FETPNG program.

In May, Pauline joined 17 other national and provincial-level colleagues in Port Moresby to participate in a five day Train the Trainer (TTT) training. Following this, Pauline had the chance to implement her new skills as Junior Faculty on the Intermediate FETPNG workshop on 23 May - 4 June.

Pauline generously shares with us here her experience of the recent TTT and her career progression as a field epidemiologist, from trainee to trainer.

Pauline contributing to TTT class brainstorming

Pauline, could you please share with us your experience of the recent TTT training?

I have attended Training of Trainers (TOTs) before but this TTT was kind of new to me because the approach was different, there were no lecture-type presentations like those of the TOTs I had attended before. This TTT was very practical, there was more participant interaction and I guess I learnt better this way and was able to implement the new skills during practice sessions.

After the TTT, you then had the opportunity to implement your new skills learned in the training in developing and delivering material in the first workshop of the new FETPNG cohort. Could you please share with us what skills you were able to use from your training in your role as junior faculty in the workshop, and how you used them in a training environment?

One of the most important skills I lack is having good facilitation skills/characteristics. Before the TTT I didn’t know much about this and I didn’t apply these hence most times it was all about preparing PowerPoints and delivering straight from the manual. The training lacked enthusiasm, less engaging and interactive, not much of experiential learning and sharing. Basically, I lacked adult learning teaching techniques. But after having gone through the intensive TTT, I was able to confidently apply some of the facilitation skills and adult learning teaching techniques in the intermediate FETP training. This TTT was very helpful and useful for me in my role as a junior faculty delivering training for the first time at the intermediate FETP training.

Pauline leading group discussion with her TTT colleagues

On reflection, how do you feel your training style in this recent FETPNG workshop as junior faculty compares to previous trainings that you have conducted?

I feel my training style has improved after having undergone the TTT as there was more engaging and interaction during the sessions I delivered and I believe I was more confident this time. We (I including the junior faculty) received very good feedback from the fellows and the senior faculty at every daily evaluation. Fellows were always looking forward to learning every day and we tried to maintain that good learning atmosphere and rhythm throughout the 2 weeks of training. On the last day we received very good comments which were uplifting and motivating for myself and the rest of the faculty.

You started as a FETPNG fellow and are now junior faculty on FETPNG! (Congratulations!) What are some of the factors that have influenced your successful career progression?

Thank you! This FETP training in general has really made an impact on my role as a Surveillance Officer for the National Malaria Control Program equipping me with vital field epi and research skills that have really improved my performance at work and thus, I have been given added responsibilities within the program, and opportunities working in collaboration with important malaria partners in PNG and abroad. For this I am indebted to my immediate supervisor for believing in my capabilities and pushing me beyond my limits to realize my potential. I am also very grateful to Mr Berry Ropa and the FETPNG faculty for seeing the potential in me and giving me more opportunities to grow in the field epidemiology space in PNG and I look forward to doing more and contributing towards the development of the FETP program in the country.

And lastly, it takes a strong supportive system to enable successful progression in one’s career and I am just thankful that I have this including a very supportive and understanding family that has been by my side through it all. 

Pauline and her TTT colleagues practising new methods of conducting training evaluation

What advice would you suggest to other healthcare workers in Papua New Guinea who would like to explore a career in public health and field epidemiology?

It’s an exciting career pathway that many health care workers in PNG including myself who have gone through the FETPNG since its inception in 2013, have found to be very fulfilling and rewarding. It takes sheer determination and commitment to go a long way but if fellow Papua New Guineans have done it and excelled professionally in this field, creating colourful testimonies then I’m sure you can do it too and inspire others with your story.

If you would like to find out more about Field Epidemiology in Action’s work to strengthen trainers’ training skills, you can read more about TTT here or feel free to contact us directly here.