A two-day Medical Education Conference, focusing on Capacity Building in Medical Education was organized by Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) at its DMC Campus. Deans and Principals from more than 60 public and private sector medical colleges and universities shared their experiences in medical education, from under-graduate to post-graduate to continuing professional development levels.
The aim of the conference was to gather the principals and Medical Educators and of all medical colleges of Pakistan, both public and private sector to gather and share their experiences in medical education across the learning continuum (from undergraduate to postgraduate to continuing professional development). This conference will provide as a platform to exchange ideas and knowledge to enhance our professional growth so that we can produce the best medical graduates in the world. More than 60 principals and deans of the country attended the conference.
Dr Farhat Abbas, Dean, Aga Khan University speaking as the Chief Guest on the occasion address stressed on teaching and training of students so as to enable them to cope with the demands of healthcare in the future by improving the curriculum of undergraduates medical education. Medical Educators must also remember that faculty development can play a critical role in curricular and organizational change and thus enlarge the scope of faculty development by moving beyond formal, structured activities, incorporating notions of self-directed learning, peer mentoring, and work-based learning. It has been said that faculty development can play a critical role in promoting culture change at a number of levels.
He further said that Medical educators should broaden the focus of faculty development and target the various roles that clinicians and basic scientists play, including those of leader and scholar.
Vice Chancellor-DUHS, Prof. Masood Hameed Khan sharing his views informed Pakistan is very fortunate to have a very dynamic and dedicated faculty in its medical institutions. Many colleges across Pakistan are in the process of implementing curricular reforms. Medical educators should try to situate faculty development in a more global context and collaborate with international colleagues in the transformation of medical education and health care delivery. This conference will provide as a platform to exchange ideas and knowledge to enhance our professional growth so that we can produce the best medical graduates in the world. DUHS takes pride in being an institute with an excellence in health sciences. The vision and mission of the University is focused on three domains that include academic excellence, human resource development and community healthcare. DUHS is one of the few institutions which have adopted the latest curriculum in medical education.
Prof. Junaid Ashraf, Principal Dow Medical College in his welcome address briefed the participants about the objectives of the conference. He informed that this conference will addressed a number of topics related to the future of faculty development. As a part of capacity building component of the conference time is dedicated to hands on Workshop where faculty will get the chance to practice educationally relevant and important topic. It is hope that through the efforts of conference organizers and participants will be a far reaching effect on education practice in the country.
Earlier, in the Plenary Session Dr. Syed Moyn Ali, Visiting Faculty of Medical Education-DUHS, Director Medical Education, College of Medical & Medical Sciences, Taif University, Saudi Arabia spoke on Developing problem solving skills in undergraduate learners with using PBL; Dr. Lubna Baig, Medical Education and Research Unit, University of Calgary spoke on Times to question the social accountability of academic institution of health sciences; Dr. Syed Kauser Ali, Sr. Lecturer, Education Development Department-AKUH spoke on Evidence for admission criteria in Medical Education; Dr. Naghma Naseem, Lecturer, King Saud University spoke on Capacity Building for Health Professions Education.