Message from the President

The past year has been one of important transitions for FAIMER. We have been successful in translating plans into action. In each of our spheres of activity, we have moved from identified goals to tangible results. We have established the principles of focus and self-evaluation that will ensure effective, coordinated efforts and maximum impact. We have also enjoyed progress in the relationship building that is so critical to our success. In all of our efforts, the thoughtful direction provided by our Board of Directors and the contributions of staff members involved in the Foundation’s work have been, and will continue to be, essential.

In our efforts to track and create resources on medical education, the International Medical Education Directory (IMED) is an unqualified success. IMED has been available as a resource for two years and is becoming a standard of reference for those interested in international medical education. The introduction of subscription-based access to IMED in 2003, which allows comprehensive access to the IMED database, reflects our commitment to share resources broadly with those conducting research on medical education. We will continue to update and expand the information available in IMED to ensure that it remains the best resource on the world’s medical schools. To support such development, we began the process of surveying the world’s ministries of health, ministries of education, and medical councils in 2003, a process that we will continue on a regular basis. The results of these surveys will also inform our plans for additional publicly-available resources on medical education, including a database of international accrediting agencies that is currently under consideration.

The Foundation’s programs and resources for international medical educators have benefited from enhancements in both organization and focus. In 2003, the transition of the IFME and STEF fellowship programs from ECFMG to FAIMER was completed, and we began to align these programs more closely with those of the FAIMER Institute. The impact of concentrating our efforts regionally is evident, and we are approaching a critical mass of resources in certain regions that has the potential to create and sustain improvement in medical education. Current and former Fellows are active in regional professional networks, and these educators are planning events in both India and central Africa. Of special significance in 2003 was our agreement with the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) to fund two fellowships through its Evaluation Fellowship Program. This is an exciting partnership with the potential to expand educational opportunities for international professionals involved in the education and evaluation of physicians.

Our research activities progressed on a number of levels in 2003. Our agreement with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) to conduct a joint, multi-year study of the educational experiences of U.S.-citizen international medical graduates should yield important data on this segment of the U.S. physician workforce. Analysis of the IMED database and the results of FAIMER surveys, begun in 2003, also promises new directions for research and valuable feedback on our programs and resources. We have also begun to look at ECFMG and FAIMER resources in connection with data maintained by other organizations, and we are enthusiastic about the possibilities that the linkage of these resources may provide for informing health care policy.

The task of improving medical education cannot, and should not, be accomplished unilaterally. Through dialogue and collaboration with others, we maximize resources, impact, and the appropriateness of improvements for local health care systems. Collaborative projects with the NBME, AAMC, and others are already underway, and, in 2003, we enjoyed discussions with other organizations and individuals regarding potential collaborations. From our perspective, our most important relationship is with ECFMG. We are fortunate to have the support of an organization characterized by excellence, expertise, and experience. We will continue to foster our existing relationships, and actively solicit new ones across all areas of activity.

Our accomplishments of the past year are significant. They are evidence that the directions and strategies outlined for the Foundation are producing meaningful results. I am especially pleased that we have been able to make real contributions toward supporting the work of ECFMG. Moving forward, we have many opportunities for building on these accomplishments, and we will continue to approach these in ways that produce meaningful results for the Foundation, ECFMG, the international medical education community, and heath care consumers.

John J. Norcini, Ph.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research