(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The International Advisory Board (IAB) of Qatar University College of Medicine (QU-CMED) met last week to follow up on progress made with the establishment of the college in preparation of receiving its first cohort this September.
Members of the Board commended the college's progress and offered recommendations on the use of space. A number of workshops delivered by several IAB members provided insight on curriculum development, student affairs, research strategy and partnerships respectively as related to medical education.
Presenters included dean of honour at University of Heidelberg Professor Hans Sonntag; former vice- chancellor of Medical and Health Science Colleges at University of Sharjah Professor Hossam Hamdi; dean Emeritus of Stanford University School of Medicine Professor Philip Pizzo; and former dean/CEO of Perdana School of Medicine and Professor of Medicine and Physiology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Professor Charles Wiener.
CMED progress, made since the last IAB meeting, was presented by VP for Medical Education and dean of the college Dr Egon Toft, and was followed by a discussion and presentation of findings and recommendations by IAB members based on the workshops.
Professor Pizzo said, "My involvement with Qatar University and the prospect of creating a national college of medicine began in the Fall of 2013 when I was invited to become a member of the IAB. In less than two years, the prospect of a new medical school has progressed with startling speed from concept development, a feasibility and need analysis, program approval, recruiting and appointing a dean, developing a model curriculum, constructing interim educational facilities, creating alignments and partnerships with Hamad Medical Corporation for clinical training, initiating faculty recruitment, and admitting the inaugural class of the college in the Fall of 2015.
This represents truly remarkable progress and is a tribute to the vision, commitment and dedication of university leaders, project managers and numerous stakeholders and advisers who came together to launch what we all hope will become a model of excellence in medical education for Qatar and beyond. It has been a privilege to have been both a witness and participant to this exciting project."
The IAB meeting followed the recent approval by QU Board of Regents on the college's curriculum and study plan following a thorough review of the curriculum by international experts who provided positive and highly-promising feedback.
The College will also benefit from a number of MoUs underway with international universities and with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).
The international agreements will focus on faculty development and curriculum development and will include student exchange activities and a 6-month loan of a faculty member offering expertise on curriculum development.
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