Noor Fatima Ahsen, M.B.B.S., 2006 FAIMER Institute Fellow, and Sheena Singh, M.B.B.S., M.D., 2006 CMCL-FAIMER Regional Institute Fellow, have been selected as participants in FAIMER’s International Fellowship in Medical Education (IFME) program. Both Fellows will be pursuing a Master of Health Professions Education (M.H.P.E.) degree at Maastricht University in the Netherlands.
Dr. Ahsen, a 2008-2009 FAIMER Institute Global Faculty Advisor, plans to focus on curriculum development, teaching methods, and student assessment. Her goal is to take on greater organizational leadership roles and make important contributions to medical education research in her position as a public health consultant in Pakistan.
Dr. Singh is the first Regional Institute Fellow to enter the IFME program. She plans to study curriculum design, principles of andragogy, assessment, and project management, as well as further develop her leadership and research skills. Her goal is to apply what she learns from the program in her role as a CMCL-FAIMER Regional Institute Faculty Advisor.
Four Fellows, all from the FAIMER Institute class of 2003, have completed the IFME program and have earned their M.H.P.E. degree from Maastricht University:
Huseyin Cahit Taskiran, M.D., M.H.P.E., completed the program in May 2008. His thesis is entitled “Taking Skills Mastery to the Next Level: A Needs Assessment Study for an Outcome-based Curriculum Design.”
Elena Barragan, M.D., Ph.D., M.H.P.E, also completed the program in May 2008. Her thesis is entitled “Novice Faculty Development Programme Evaluation.”
Ahuka Ona Longombe, M.D., Ph.D., M.H.P.E., completed the program in October 2008. His thesis is entitled “Factors Associated with Students’ Academic Success at a Medical School: Students’ Characteristics.”
Tejinder Singh, M.D., D.N.B., F.I.A.P., Masters Distance Education, M.H.P.E., had his thesis, entitled “Identification of Needs and Priorities of Pedagogic Themes for Faculty Development in India,” approved in April 2009 and will receive his official degree in June.
The IFME program provides support for participating Fellows to pursue advanced degrees in health professions education at selected institutions that offer distance learning programs. The program prepares participants to take on greater educational leadership roles at their home institutions, as well as at FAIMER’s Regional Institutes, with the ultimate goal of improving local health care. Originally open only to FAIMER Institute Fellows, the opportunity to enter the IFME program was expanded in December 2008 to include Fellows from FAIMER’s Regional Institutes. IFME Fellows are selected by FAIMER.
For more information on the IFME program, visit www.faimer.org/education/ifme/index.html.
