(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The College of Medicine at Qatar University (QU) hosted a lecture week on paradigm shifts in medical education.
It was delivered by Charles Wiener, Professor of Medicine and Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and attended by Dr Egon Toft, Vice-President for Medicine and Health and Dean of the college, faculty of the college, College of Education and others.
Prof Weiner focused on 'Individuality Paradigm' as an approach to medical care that recognises variability as a law of life, differences between bodies and individuals and how they react and behave under abnormal conditions or diseases.
Overviewing the history of medicine since 500 BC, the lecture recognised individualised medicine as the way forward in medical practice and education with support from technology.
The seminar reviewed medical paradigms that preceded individuality paradigm, discussed the context for prevention, risk assessment, treatment, and education within it, and stimulated discussion of strategies to improve human health within the framework of individuality.
Prof Weiner highlighted the history of this new medical trend, and referred to 'The structure of scientific revolutions' (1962) by Thomas Kuhn who utilised the word 'paradigm' to characterise a set of scientific beliefs that differed from current dogma.
He said Kuhn had supposed that science does not progress in a linear fashion, but rather through periodic 'paradigm shifts' instigated by research and technological advancement.
"In this new medical paradigm, the continuum of human health and disease will be understood, investigated and practised in the context of individuality," he said, identifying three factors taken into consideration: A patient's genetic map, external factors and identical cases.
Implementing the new paradigm calls for collaborative efforts to reform medical education and clinical care, Prof Weiner said.
"This would emphasise individuality and the environment as determinants of phenotype ranging from 'risk' to 'critical illness'."
He said Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine translates individuality paradigm into education and practice by establishing a 'Genes to Society' curriculum in which the new paradigm is taken as a starting point and a new framework is developed to structure medical education and care.
The seminar was part of a series of lectures delivered by world leaders in medical education.
Founded in October 2014, the college is aligned with Qatar's national strategies in education and health and QU's strategic plan and aims to be the leading college of medicine in the region and the college of choice for top students and faculty.
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