FAIMER President John Norcini Announces Retirement

Author J DrendallPosted on Categories FAIMER staffTags

FAIMER President John NorciniJohn J. Norcini, Ph.D., President and CEO of FAIMER, has announced that he will retire effective July 1, 2019. Dr. Norcini became FAIMER’s first president in May 2002, and has established numerous worldwide initiatives and programs in medical education, research, and data resource development during his 16-year tenure.

William W. Pinsky, M.D., President and CEO of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG®) and Board Chair of FAIMER, said an international search for Dr. Norcini’s successor will begin immediately.

“John’s dedication to FAIMER’s mission, his energy, and his broad vision have positioned FAIMER as a leader in the promotion of excellence in international health professions education through programmatic and research activities,” Dr. Pinsky said. “ECFMG’s and FAIMER’s board, staff, and partners are proud to share in John’s legacy.”

Dr. Norcini played an instrumental role in the development of FAIMER’s fellowship programs for health professions educators that include the FAIMER Institute, FAIMER Regional Institutes, and the International Fellowship in Medical Education (IFME)–a program originally sponsored by ECFMG, which transitioned to FAIMER in 2001. He championed the alignment of these programs with each other to create an educational pathway that allows international health professions educators to become outstanding local resources for improving health professions education.

Under Dr. Norcini’s supervision, the FAIMER Distance Learning program has flourished, offering health professions educators the knowledge and skills to advance health professions education at their institutions to the highest international standards. Since 2013, he has served as Co-Director of the FAIMER-Keele Master’s in Health Professions Education: Accreditation and Assessment program, conducted in partnership with Keele University and the Centre for Medical Education in Context (CenMEDIC); and he serves as lead faculty for the newly launched FAIMER-Gulf Medical University joint Master in Health Professions Education program.

Dr. Norcini has overseen FAIMER research activities in the broad domains of the international migration of physicians, United States physician workforce issues, and international medical education programs. FAIMER also designs and conducts studies focused on international health professions education, including the quality of medical schools and their graduates, international accreditation, licensure, and certification processes. FAIMER frequently conducts these investigations in collaboration with other institutes and researchers, and aims to inform policy makers in government, academia, and various other interested organizations.

FAIMER has also made significant strides in achieving its goal of building information resources on medical education worldwide under Dr. Norcini’s leadership. He has overseen the development of the Directory of Organizations that Recognize/Accredit Medical Schools (DORA), directories of master’s and doctoral programs in health professions education, the Postgraduate Medical Education (PME) Project, and the World Directory of Medical Schools—a resource created and maintained in collaboration with the World Federation for Medical Education.

Dr. Norcini received several awards and honors, including the 2014 Karolinska Institutet Prize for Research in Medical Education for his pioneering research on knowledge decay, specialty certification, and the development of new methods of assessment. In 2009, he received the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) John P. Hubbard Award for his commitment to excellence in medical education, his rigorous pursuit of high standards in scholarship, his broad and prolific publications and presentations history, and his tireless work on behalf of FAIMER. Dr. Norcini’s accomplishments in the field of assessment are considered both wide-ranging and pioneering.

Dr. Norcini has served on the editorial boards of seven peer-reviewed journals in measurement and medical education, has lectured and taught in nearly 50 countries, and has published extensively. He has served on countless committees contributing to the fields of education, assessment, and research.

Before joining FAIMER, Dr. Norcini spent 25 years with the American Board of Internal Medicine serving as Director of Psychometrics, Executive Vice President for Evaluation and Research, and Executive Vice President of the Institute for Clinical Evaluation. He earned his bachelor’s degree from LaSalle University and his doctorate from Bryn Mawr College.

Application Deadline for 2019 FAIMER Institute Extended to October 31

Author J DrendallPosted on Categories applications, FAIMER Institute, fellowships

The application deadline for the 2019 FAIMER Institute has been extended to October 31, 2018.

The FAIMER Institute is a competitive 30-month fellowship program for international health professions educators who have demonstrated the potential to play a key role in improving health professions education at their institutions and in their countries. The program is unique among leadership programs and other degree programs in health professions education—it is a transformational global educational experience for health professions faculty. It is designed to teach education methods, leadership and management, education scholarship and research, and project management and evaluation, as well as to develop strong professional bonds with other educators as each Fellow becomes a member of a global network of health professions educators. An interactive, high-engagement approach uses participants’ projects as the ‘laboratory’ to apply their learning.

The FAIMER Institute offers an intense, interactive educational experience spread out over two residential sessions in Philadelphia and three distance learning sessions. Year one (March 2019 – February 2020) is comprised of a three-week onsite session in Philadelphia, followed by an 11-month distance learning session. Year two (March 2020 – August 2021) is comprised of a two-week onsite session in Philadelphia, a five-month distance learning session, and a 12-month distance learning session during which participants earn a Certificate in Health Professions Education: Accreditation and Assessment through the FAIMER-Keele Distance Learning program.

Participants’ education innovation projects are the focal point for application of learning at the FAIMER Institute. For 2019, FAIMER encourages applicants to propose education innovation projects that support maternal and child health. Maternal and child health projects will provide an opportunity for Fellows to connect education innovation and health outcomes, by encouraging them to identify key health problems and create health workforce education innovations to address them. Projects in other domains such as education methods, leadership, community health (in areas other than maternal and child health), and program evaluation will also be considered.

Thanks to generous support from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and other benefactors, FAIMER is able to sponsor most participants to attend the Institute. A wide range of financial support is available, including significant scholarships, based on need.

The deadline for application is October 31, 2018. Applications will be reviewed as they are received and applicants will be informed as selected.

For more information on the FAIMER Institute, visit www.faimer.org/education/institute/index.html.

To apply, visit https://faimer.fluidreview.com/.

2018 International Fellowship in Medical Education Recipients

Author J DrendallPosted on Categories distance learning, fellowships, IFMETags

FAIMER is pleased to announce the 2018 recipients of the International Fellowship in Medical Education (IFME):

Pushpanjali Krishnappa, Ph.D., M.S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore, India

Selvam Ramachandran, M.Sc., Ph.D., Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India

Kavita Sahai, MBBS, M.D., Army Hospital, New Delhi, India

Monika Sharma, M.B.B.S., M.D., M.Sc., Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, India

All four IFME Fellows will begin their coursework on September 24, in pursuit of a Master’s Degree in Health Professions Education: Accreditation and Assessment through the FAIMER-Keele Distance Learning program.

Application Deadline for 2019 FAIMER Institute Extended to September 30

Author J DrendallPosted on Categories applications, FAIMER Institute, fellowships

The application deadline for the 2019 FAIMER Institute has been extended to September 30, 2018.

The FAIMER Institute is a competitive 30-month fellowship program for international health professions educators who have demonstrated the potential to play a key role in improving health professions education at their institutions and in their countries. The program is unique among leadership programs and other degree programs in health professions education—it is a transformational global educational experience for health professions faculty. It is designed to teach education methods, leadership and management, education scholarship and research, and project management and evaluation, as well as to develop strong professional bonds with other educators as each Fellow becomes a member of a global network of health professions educators. An interactive, high-engagement approach uses participants’ projects as the ‘laboratory’ to apply their learning.

The FAIMER Institute offers an intense, interactive educational experience spread out over two residential sessions in Philadelphia and three distance learning sessions. Year one (March 2019 – February 2020) is comprised of a three-week onsite session in Philadelphia, followed by an 11-month distance learning session. Year two (March 2020 – August 2021) is comprised of a two-week onsite session in Philadelphia, a five-month distance learning session, and a 12-month distance learning session during which participants earn a Certificate in Health Professions Education: Accreditation and Assessment through the FAIMER-Keele Distance Learning program.

Participants’ education innovation projects are the focal point for application of learning at the FAIMER Institute. For 2019, FAIMER encourages applicants to propose education innovation projects that support maternal and child health. Maternal and child health projects will provide an opportunity for Fellows to connect education innovation and health outcomes, by encouraging them to identify key health problems and create health workforce education innovations to address them. Projects in other domains such as education methods, leadership, community health (in areas other than maternal and child health), and program evaluation will also be considered.

Thanks to generous support from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and other benefactors, FAIMER is able to sponsor most participants to attend the Institute. A wide range of financial support is available, including significant scholarships, based on need.

The deadline for application is September 30, 2018. Applications will be reviewed as they are received and applicants will be informed as selected.

For more information on the FAIMER Institute, visit www.faimer.org/education/institute/index.html.

To apply, visit https://faimer.fluidreview.com/.

FAIMER and Gulf Medical University Launch Joint MHPE Program

Author J DrendallPosted on Categories distance learning, MHPETags

FAIMER and Gulf Medical University (GMU) are pleased to announce the launch of a joint Master in Health Professions Education (MHPE) program.

The aim of this two-year blended learning program is to develop leaders in health professions education who can transform education and support the development of health professionals for the 21st century. The only program of its kind currently offered in the Gulf region and the wider Arab world, the FAIMER-GMU program is designed and taught by a faculty of more than 50 internationally acclaimed academics and is accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation, Ministry of Education, United Arab Emirates. The program is conducted in partnership with GMU and The Centre for Medical Education in Context (CenMEDIC) in the United Kingdom. Courses are administered by CenMEDIC and follow the quality assurance guidelines and policies of GMU.

The FAIMER-GMU program offers ease of study with a flexible learning schedule to accommodate working professionals. A dedicated Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) enables participants to access digital content, virtual classrooms, videos, discussions, and more to support all aspects of their learning. Students who successfully complete the program, including a research project relevant to their work environment in the second year, will be awarded a Joint Master’s degree in Health Professions Education. Students who choose not to continue past the first year of the program will be awarded a Joint Diploma in Health Professions Education.

Applications for September 2018 enrollment are currently being accepted. Detailed information on admission criteria and program goals and outcomes can be found on the FAIMER-GMU program’s website.

There Is Still Time to Apply for Fall 2018 Enrollment in the FAIMER-Keele Distance Learning Program

Author J DrendallPosted on Categories distance learningTags ,

FAIMER is currently accepting 2018 applications for the FAIMER-Keele Distance Learning program. The deadline for application is August 31, 2018, and course work will begin on September 24, 2018.

Now in its sixth year, the program is conducted in partnership with Keele University and The Centre for Medical Education in Context (CenMEDIC) in the United Kingdom. Courses are administered by CenMEDIC and follow the quality assurance guidelines and policies of Keele. The guidance and expertise of Course Directors Janet Grant, Ph.D., Director of CenMEDIC and Emerita Professor of Education in Medicine at The Open University, and John Norcini, Ph.D., President and CEO of FAIMER, help participants stay connected and engaged.

What makes the FAIMER-Keele program unique is its focus on accreditation and assessment. Participants are able to earn a Certificate, Diploma, or Master’s Degree in Health Professions Education (MHPE): Accreditation and Assessment. The program aims to empower health professions educators with the knowledge and skills to take educational standards and practice to a higher level—to develop their own practice, to improve health professions education at their institutions and in their communities, and ultimately to help bring about real and lasting advances in local health care.

Program features include:

  • Training and mentoring from international experts in health professions education
  • A flexible learning format, which allows busy working professionals to learn new skills and advance their careers while continuing to practice in their current positions
  • Planning developments in assessment, quality, and curriculum that are contextually relevant
  • A focus on accreditation and assessment, in which international standards, accreditation processes, quality assurance, and monitoring are integrated into study

Detailed information on the registration process, eligibility requirements, and tuition and fees can be found on the program’s website.

Questions regarding the program may be directed to distancelearning@faimer.org.

Winners of the 2018 Projects That Work Competition

Author J DrendallPosted on Categories competitions, Projects That WorkTags , ,

FAIMER is pleased to announce the selection of five winners of its sixth annual Projects That Work competition. A representative of each project will be sponsored by FAIMER to attend the 2018 conference of The Network: Towards Unity for Health (TUFH), to be held August 16-20, 2018, in Limerick, Ireland. Winners will discuss their work during a panel session designed to give conference attendees insights about factors that have contributed to their projects’ success and sustainability.

The winners of the 2018 Projects That Work competition are:

Shantharam Baliga (India)
Malaria Control System: GIS-based Software Technology Assistance for Effective Control of Malaria in Mangaluru, India

Maryellen Brisbois (United States)
Bridging the Atlantic: An International Alliance in Community Health among American and Azorean Nursing Students & Faculty

Reginaldo Freitas, Jr. (Brazil)
Barriguda Project: Promoting Maternal Health in a Quilombola Community of Brazil

María de la Paz Grebe (Argentina)
Posta Las Lilas: A Model of Integral Commitment to the Community

Eric Nizeyimana (Rwanda)
Community-based Malaria Prevention Empowerment

Winners of the 2018 Student Projects for Health Competition

Author J DrendallPosted on Categories competitions, Student Projects for HealthTags , ,

FAIMER is pleased to announce the selection of 16 winners of its 2018 Student Projects for Health competition. The Student Projects for Health competition—supported by GEMx and FAIMER—will be a feature of the 2018 conference of The Network: Towards Unity for Health (TUFH), to be held August 16-20, 2018, in Limerick, Ireland.  Winners will be invited to attend the conference and present posters about their projects. The award includes travel, accommodation, and conference registration fee.

Now in its fourth year, the Student Projects for Health competition recognizes students who have made outstanding contributions to projects that successfully promote community health and well-being, and was open to all undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in any course of study who have been participating in such projects.

The winners of the 2018 Student Projects for Health competition are:

Mohammed Adam (Sudan)
Khalawi Health Promotion Project

Tahir Dawood (South Africa)
The Surgical Society Emergency Room Initiative

Fabrice Humura (Rwanda)
Pharmacy Students Engagement in Prison Inmates’ Health Attention to Tuberculosis Disease

Hakeem Kiboi (Kenya)
Strengthening Kenya’s Primary Health Care System and Response to Epidemics – RockHealth Integrated Care Organization (RICO)

Dede Latey (Ghana)
The MindIT Project 

Agnes Namagembe (Uganda)
Village Health Teams’ Role in Improving Utilization of Maternal Newborn and Child Health Services in Butaleja District

Evode Ngayabo (Rwanda)
CINEMA Education for Health

Kennedy Omondi Ogutu (Kenya)
Help Remove My Jigger

Faith Okoi (Nigeria)
Street Children Project

Nishimagizwe Patience (Rwanda)
CompanionAPP

Sonya Ramondino (Ireland)
Interdisciplinary Forum for Healthcare

Lina Saeed (Sudan)
Anti TB Campaign; Together to End TB

Amitavikram Sattigeri (India)
WindMe: The Electricity-free Exhaust Fan for Combating Indoor Air Pollution in Indian Slums

Kushali Savla (India)
Together We Smile

Preeti Shakya (Nepal)
In Her Hands

Abobaker Younis (Sudan)
Let’s Fight the Flesh-Eater

Recent IFMSA Report: Attacks on Medical Education

Author J DrendallPosted on Categories health professions education, publicationsTags

International Federation of Medical Students AssociationsThe International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) recently published a pilot report exploring the impact of wars and violence on medical education and health care, titled Attacks on Medical Education. The report focuses on attacks on medical education in seven countries: Libya, Palestine, Ukraine, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. It examines the impact of violence on specific components of medical education, such as facilities, teaching hospitals, libraries, academic staff, and students; as well as the consequences these attacks can have for health care delivery and the sustainability of health care systems.

For more information or to access the report, visit https://ifmsa.org/2018/04/21/medical-education-is-notatarget/.

IFMSA is a non-profit, non-governmental organization representing associations of medical students worldwide. Founded in 1951, IFMSA currently maintains 137 National Member Organizations from 127 countries across six continents, representing a network of more than 1.3 million medical students. IFMSA is recognized as a non-governmental organization within the United Nations’ system and the World Health Organization, and works in collaboration with the World Medical Association. IFMSA also supports the Health Care in Danger (HCID) project, an initiative of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement aimed at addressing violence against patients, health workers, facilities, and vehicles, and ensuring safe access to and delivery of health care in armed conflict and other emergencies.

For more information on IFMSA, visit www.ifmsa.org.

Application for the 2019 FAIMER Institute Is Now Open

Author J DrendallPosted on Categories applications, FAIMER Institute, fellowships

FAIMER is now accepting applications for the 2019 FAIMER Institute. The FAIMER Institute is a competitive 30-month fellowship program for international health professions educators who have demonstrated the potential to play a key role in improving health professions education at their institutions and in their countries. The program is unique among leadership programs and other degree programs in health professions education—it is a transformational global educational experience for health professions faculty. It is designed to teach education methods, leadership and management, education scholarship and research, and project management and evaluation, as well as to develop strong professional bonds with other educators as each Fellow becomes a member of a global network of health professions educators. An interactive, high-engagement approach uses participants’ projects as the ‘laboratory’ to apply their learning.

The FAIMER Institute offers an intense, interactive educational experience spread out over two residential sessions in Philadelphia and three distance learning sessions. Year one (March 2019 – February 2020) is comprised of a three-week onsite session in Philadelphia, followed by an 11-month distance learning session. Year two (March 2020 – August 2021) is comprised of a two-week onsite session in Philadelphia, a five-month distance learning session, and a 12-month distance learning session during which participants earn a Certificate in Health Professions Education: Accreditation and Assessment through the FAIMER-Keele Distance Learning program.

Participants’ education innovation projects are the focal point for application of learning at the FAIMER Institute. For 2019, FAIMER encourages applicants to propose education innovation projects that support maternal and child health. Maternal and child health projects will provide an opportunity for Fellows to connect education innovation and health outcomes, by encouraging them to identify key health problems and create health workforce education innovations to address them. Projects in other domains such as education methods, leadership, community health (in areas other than maternal and child health), and program evaluation will also be considered.

Thanks to generous support from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and other benefactors, FAIMER is able to sponsor most participants to attend the Institute. A wide range of financial support is available, including significant scholarships, based on need.

The deadline for application is August 2, 2018. Applications will be reviewed as they are received and applicants will be informed as selected.

For more information on the FAIMER Institute, visit www.faimer.org/education/institute/index.html.

To apply, visit https://faimer.fluidreview.com/.