TY - JOUR T1 - Human Resources for Health: The Best Learning, the Best Skill Mix, and the Most Impact JF - Global Health: Science and Practice JO - GLOB HEALTH SCI PRACT SP - 6 LP - 7 DO - 10.9745/GHSP-D-18-00092 VL - 6 IS - 1 AU - James D Shelton Y1 - 2018/03/21 UR - http://www.ghspjournal.org/content/6/1/6.abstract N2 - Acting in a difficult environment, constructive efforts to improve medical education in Zimbabwe included revised curricula, investing in faculty and improved teaching skills, competency-based learning, and modern technology. But an ideal approach to health systems strengthening would put more emphasis on primary care and prevention, equity, and the many other vital health cadres besides physicians.See related article by Hakim et al.We have witnessed markedly increased attention to the health workforce in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in the last 2 decades. And with good reason. Health workers are the backbone of all health systems, and the situation is generally dire. A good write-up is found in the recent Lancet Commission on the future of health in sub-Saharan Africa.1 Some key themes: Huge need for additional staffPriority for primary care and preventionPriority for a diverse set of health cadresEquity for underserved populationsCompetency-based learningInformation technology for learningInstitution strengthening and sustainability, including lifelong learningCollaboration across countries—of both pedagogic and technical contentAddressing all this is of course a very tall order. In this issue of GHSP, we feature one helpful step addressing this immense challenge at the preservice level. Hakim and colleagues2 describe their efforts to strengthen medical education at the University of Zimbabwe, … ER -