FAIMER History

The idea of establishing a separate foundation developed from ECFMG's long-standing commitment to promoting excellence in international medical education. This commitment began with ECFMG's first faculty exchange program in 1983. In the years that followed, ECFMG increased resources for exchange programs, introduced consultation services, and considered a number of research initiatives related to international medical schools and their graduates. However, ECFMG's Board of Trustees believed that more could be accomplished by a separate organization with dedicated resources focused on the international medical community. Discussions began in early 2000, and, in July of that year, the ECFMG Board of Trustees approved a resolution to establish an ECFMG foundation.

The Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) was incorporated as a nonprofit foundation of ECFMG in September 2000. FAIMER's Board of Directors held its first organizational meeting in December 2000. An executive search initiated at the end of 2001 resulted in recruitment of the Foundation's first President and Chief Executive Officer, John J. Norcini, Ph.D., who joined FAIMER in May 2002. Throughout the period from 2001 through 2003, the membership of the Foundation's Board expanded with the election of Directors-at-Large. By the end of 2003, all positions had been filled, and the Board anticipated its first meeting of 2004 with full membership.

In ongoing planning sessions beginning in 2001, FAIMER's Directors have initiated a strategic plan for the Foundation that defines its focus and priorities. FAIMER will concentrate its efforts in three thematic areas: tracking medical education, programs for medical educators, and discovering and disseminating knowledge. In approaching these activities, the Foundation will attempt to maximize the impact of its efforts and resources by concentrating on specific, geographical areas. Throughout the planning process, both South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa had been identified as potential foci. In 2003, the Board refined these foci, identifying India as its primary focus, and Sub-Saharan Africa and South America as additional areas of concentration.

By the end of 2003, projects had been identified and results achieved in each of FAIMER's three thematic areas. In keeping with its goal of developing resources on medical education worldwide, FAIMER introduced the International Medical Education Directory (IMED) in 2002 and enhanced access to IMED in 2003 with the introduction of the IMED Subscription Service. The transition of ECFMG's educational programs for the international medical community, which began in 2001, was completed in 2003, and the Foundation had established a growing fellowship program, the FAIMER Institute. FAIMER's research staff have identified important questions regarding international medical graduates and medical education and are beginning to engage with the data resources and organizational partners that will enable meaningful research on these issues.

2000

• The concept of establishing a foundation is discussed, and later approved, by ECFMG's Board of Trustees
• FAIMER is incorporated as a nonprofit foundation of ECFMG.
• The FAIMER Board of Directors holds its first organizational meeting.

2001

• FAIMER assumes responsibility for ECFMG's educational programs for the medical education community.
• FAIMER begins development of the International Medical Education Directory.
• The FAIMER Institute, the Foundation's first new program, commences.

2002

• The International Medical Education Directory becomes available.
• FAIMER's first President and Chief Executive Officer takes office.

2003

• The first issue of FAIMER MedEd, FAIMER's e-mail newsletter for the international medical education community, is published.
• Subscription-based access to the International Medical Education Directory becomes available.
• The transition of ECFMG's educational programs to FAIMER is completed. FAIMER begins to unify the processes and procedures of the former ECFMG International Fellowships in Medical Education (IFME) and Short-Term Exchange Fellowship (STEF) programs with those of the FAIMER Institute.
• FAIMER introduces a web-based application for its fellowship programs, the FAIMER Institute and FAIMER IFME program.