Message from the Chair

FAIMER is dedicated to the creation of resources. Elegant in its simplicity, this statement belies the challenges and complexities entailed in creating resources that support the efforts and the mission of ECFMG, and the efforts of medical educators, organizations involved in medical credentialing and licensure, and researchers in the field of medical education. Such resources, if they are relevant, responsive, accurate, and objective, hold great potential for improving medical education worldwide and the lives of health care consumers, the ultimate beneficiaries of such improvements. As members of the Foundation's Board of Directors, it is our charge to consider these challenges and complexities and to formulate strategies for success against which we can measure past accomplishments and future plans.

In developing a strategic plan, our goal has been to maximize FAIMER's impact in the field of international medical education. To this end, we have identified areas of thematic and geographical focus, which organize and concentrate the Foundation's activities. Combining efforts with appropriate internal and external partners also serves to maximize FAIMER's impact. As a result, developing productive relationships has been recognized by the Board as integral to the Foundation's activities. During the past year, these plans have been important guiding principles for the Foundation's activities, and they form the basis of our developing vision for the Foundation.

The three themes that organize FAIMER's activities are: to develop resources on international medical education and medical school graduates, to create and enhance resources for medical educators, and to engage in research, independently and collaboratively, on international medical graduates and international medical education. In 2003, the Board identified a set of potential goals and activities in each of these areas that will guide the Foundation's projects and programs in 2004 and beyond.

The concept of regional focus applies across the three thematic areas of activity. In 2003, the Board selected India as the Foundation's primary geographical focus, with Sub-Saharan Africa and South America as additional areas of focus. These foci will guide the selection of FAIMER Fellows and organizational partners, contributing to a growing network of medical educators, as well as local working models for improving medical education. The regional concentration of such resources facilitates more immediate, effective, and self-sustaining results.

During the past year, we have been very successful in beginning to establish the working relationships that will be critical to the Foundation's success. The relationship between ECFMG and FAIMER continues to evolve in positive ways. This is evident in the smooth transition to FAIMER of the former ECFMG fellowship programs, which was completed in 2003. The cross-appointment of several ECFMG staff members to positions within FAIMER's evolving organizational structure marks another important milestone in this developing relationship. These cross-appointments bring to FAIMER established expertise in and an intimate knowledge of ECFMG processes that will be key to achieving FAIMER's goal of supporting ECFMG's values, mission, and purposes. The appointments are also consistent with FAIMER's charge of maximizing impact by sharing resources.

I am pleased to report that, in 2003, we were successful in recruiting all remaining Board positions. The Board that will begin its service in 2004 possesses not only expertise and dedication, but also the diversity required to lead an organization with an international focus. Finally, FAIMER is in regular contact with potential organizational partners and, by the end of 2003, had entered into collaborative projects with the Association of American Medical Colleges and the National Board of Medical Examiners®.

Planning for the future of the Foundation, although well underway, will continue. As we proceed, we embrace a number of challenges. First, we must attend simultaneously to the details of FAIMER's current undertakings and to our larger vision for it as a maturing organization. Second, as the Foundation's activities continue to grow in number and complexity, we must maintain the focus that will allow it to achieve maximum impact in the field of medical education. Finally, we anticipate that the nature of FAIMER's work — its collaborative relationships and original research — will produce new, promising directions. We view these as signs of the Foundation's progress and success.

James A. Hallock, M.D.
Chair, Board of Directors
Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research