Keynote 

Henry Cohen, M.D., FACG, AGAF
Emeritus Professor
Professor of Gastroenterology 
Director ECHO Project Uruguay (https://proyectoecho.fmed.edu.uy/)
Past President National Academy of Medicine www.anm.org.uy
Master of American Gastroenterology 
Master of the World Gastroenterology Organization
Former President World Gastroenterology Organization www.worldgastroenterology.org 
 

DEMOCRATIZING HEALTH CARE: A 12-YEAR JOURNEY WITH PROJECT ECHO IN LATIN AMERICA.

From a single educational model to a regional movement, Project ECHO has reshaped how healthcare knowledge can be shared in the world and across Latin America. This lecture will explain the main characteristics of Project ECHO and will explore the development of ECHO networks in Uruguay and the region over the past 12 years, highlighting the role of collaborative learning, telementoring, and communities of practice in expanding access to specialized expertise. The presentation will also reflect on the broader implications of democratizing medical knowledge in resource-variable settings.

Educational Objectives
At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Describe the origins, principles, and structure of the Project ECHO model developed by Sanjeev Arora. 
•  Discuss the development and expansion of ECHO networks in Uruguay and Latin America over the past 12 years, including their role in collaborative learning and telementoring.
• Recognize the potential of communities of practice to expand access to specialized healthcare knowledge and reduce professional isolation in resource-variable settings.