On October 16 and 17, FAIMER®, a division of Intealth™, brought together more than 340 attendees from over 30 countries, including representatives from the International FAIMER Institute (IFI) and all 10 FAIMER Regional Institutes (FRIs), for the fourth annual FAIMER Global Forum. Conducted virtually, the Global Forum serves as a platform for advocacy and thought leadership by convening FAIMER Fellows, alumni, leaders, partners, and friends to exchange ideas, share experiences, and discuss topics related to health care education and workforce development. An important area of focus is the role that FAIMER Fellows play in advancing health professions education around the world.
Hosted by the Christian Medical College FAIMER Regional Institute in Ludhiana, India (CMCL-FRI), the 2024 forum emphasized the theme of Globalization of Health Professions Education. The keynote address, “Expanding Health Professions Education Across Continents,” delivered by Vijay Rajput, MD, MACP, SFHM, Professor and Chair of Medical Education at Nova Southeastern University, discussed the importance of expanding education globally and the complexities of the changing landscape of health care education. The address sparked lively discussions on these topics and on the growth of Master of Health Professions Education (MHPE) programs worldwide. “It was a great honor to deliver the keynote remarks for this year’s FAIMER Global Forum,” said Dr. Rajput. “The FAIMER Institutes have played a substantial role in the careers of many health professions educators globally. I was pleased to share my perspectives on the expansion of health professions education and to engage with Fellows from around the world.”
Intealth President and CEO Eric S. Holmboe, MD, and Intealth Senior Vice President and FAIMER Executive Director, Lyuba Konopasek, MD, delivered presentations on Intealth and its ECFMG® and FAIMER divisions, and the organization’s role in advancing health professions education. “Medical education ultimately serves our patients, families, and communities, ensuring they get the best possible care — care that is safe, effective, efficient, patient-centered, timely, and equitable. This community is incredibly well-positioned to improve the quality of medical education and health care, and reduce disparities for patients and learners as we move forward,” said Dr. Holmboe. Reflecting on the event, Dr. Konopasek said that she was honored to participate in her first Global Forum as Executive Director of FAIMER and added, “For many years, I have admired the leadership and community among FAIMER Fellows worldwide. Hearing the diverse perspectives and innovative approaches shared by participants speaks to the program’s rich history and inspires the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.”
As part of the forum, Rashmi Vyas, MD, MHPE, Vice President, Intealth, and Senior Director, FAIMER Global, provided an overview of the FAIMER Institutes and noted the mutual partnership models that are foundational to the programming. She elaborated on the methods by which the Institutes embrace bidirectional learning and collaboration — resulting in capacity-strengthening, cultural humility, and a vibrant global community in health professions education and leadership. After the event, Dr. Vyas concluded, “The FAIMER Global Forum continues to align with our mission to strengthen health professions education globally. It embodies FAIMER Global’s commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration across continents, in line with our organizational values.”
The FAIMER Global Forum began in 2021 as part of FAIMER’s 20th anniversary celebration and is now hosted annually by a different FAIMER Regional Institute. Special thanks to Dinesh Badyal, MD, MHPE, Director of the Christian Medical College in Ludhiana, India FAIMER Regional Institute, and everyone at the CMCL-FRI who contributed to making this year’s event a success.
