Consultation Program

The Consultation Program matches the expertise of U.S. physician educators with medical schools and national Ministries of Health and Education abroad to address specific issues in medical education. Relying on the expertise of its own physician educators complemented by that of U.S. medical faculty, consultation is offered on a variety of topics in four broad educational areas:

Accreditation

• Medical School Accreditation Process

Curriculum Development and Reform

• Adapting Curricula to Educating in Various Settings
• Curriculum Building to Meet the Needs of Citizens
• Governance, Organization, and Process of Curriculum Development and Revision

Educational Evaluation

• Clinical Skills Assessment
• Evaluation of Student Performance, Educators, and Educational Programs
• Observational Evaluation

Educational Methodology

• Problem-based Learning/Teaching
• Integrated Basic Sciences/Clinical Sciences Teaching
• Small Group Teaching
• Faculty Development

In 2002, FAIMER facilitated the following consultations:

Panama
The Dean of the University of Panama School of Medicine invited representatives of ECFMG and the National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®) to discuss clinical skills assessment and testing in the basic medical and clinical sciences. The consultation and discussions resulted in preliminary plans to establish clinical skills and medical science exams as screening tools for graduates of medical schools in Panama.

Central Asian Republics
The second consultation resulted from an invitation to participate in the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/American International Health Alliance (AIHA) project, which assists medical schools in the newly-independent Central Asian Republics in organizing medical education and health care. Dr. James A. Hallock, Chair of FAIMER's Board of Directors and ECFMG President, and representatives of the Republics' medical schools discussed international accreditation, standard setting and assessment, and the potential application of these techniques to the Central Asian schools.