Medical education in Iran is moving towards curricular reform and competency-based postgraduate medical education. As part of this reform, FAIMER President, John J. Norcini, Ph.D., received an invitation from the Council for Graduate Medical Education of Iran to run a series of workshops on assessment.
In July 2006, faculty from universities of medical sciences throughout Iran attended a week long conference held in Tehran. Also in attendance were Dr. Mohagheghi, Deputy Minister for Educational and Student Affairs of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education; Dr. Einollahi, Chair of the Council for Graduate Medical Education; and a number of other important educational authorities.
Dr. Norcini conducted five workshops on key issues in assessment for participants who were members of Curriculum Development Committees and Chairs of the medical specialties Boards of Examiners. He also conducted three plenary sessions for faculty from Tehran University of the Medical Sciences and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. The Ministry of Health and Medical Education also attended the plenary sessions.
Meetings to discuss possibilities for collaboration were held with Dr. Larijani, President of Tehran University of the Medical Sciences; Dr. Hosseini, Vice-Chancellor for Educational Affairs, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences; and other representatives from both universities.
Dr. Norcini noted that workshop attendees were knowledgeable, committed to high quality assessment, and enthusiastic (see picture) and that, going forward, there is a good basis for collaboration in a wide range of areas.
Travel to the conference was funded by the Joint Program Review Mission of the World Health Organization. Drs. Zali, President of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, and Hosseini, Vice-Chancellor for Educational Affairs, provided the facilities for the conference.
