The College of Medicine under the patronage of Dr. Bandar Al Knawy the CEO of National Guard Health Affairs and the President of King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences organized an International workshop titled "Innovative Concepts in Medical Education 2009 " in the period between 24-28, October 2009. This workshop was attended by renowned and experienced speakers from all over the world with 130 faculty members representing different colleges and consultants working in National Guard medical cities.
Professor Youssef Al-Eissa, Vice President, Educational Affairs and Dean, College of Medicine, KSAU-HS said that the list of international experts included a group of the most experienced pioneers world wide, including: Prof Henk Schmidt, the founder of problem-based education and one of the best experts in this area and winner of the Nobel Prize in medical education. Also, Dr. Sylvia Mamedy, a medical education expert in Rotterdam University, Prof. Hank Mullen from Maastricht University, the Netherlands and one of the pioneers in this field, Prof. Clark Hazlett from the University of Edmonton, Canada and the founder of the he International Database for Enhanced Assessments and Learning (IDEAL) Consortium and Prof. Koshio Nair from Newcastle University, Australia, an expert of assessment and clinical supervision.
Prof. Youssef Al-Eissa added that this symposium is one of the most important events aimed to enhance the academic and clinical faculty members’ skills, pointing out that the University has a special interest in strengthening and refining their skills by applying a comprehensive program which includes seminars and workshops run by the best international expertise in all medical and health education.
Furthermore, Dr. Mohamed Al Moamary, Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs, COM and the chairman of the Faculty Enhancement Program said that the symposium covered a number of topics such as: the concept of problem based learning and how to apply it in the modern approach as well as communication skills and clinical education. The symposium was preceded by workshops directed at faculty members in the two years pre-professional program. Dr. Al Moamary also added that these educational activities will be accredited with 46 CME hours awarded by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. In addition, all the teaching methods, references and special lectures were uploaded on a special online program; an example of web-based curricula adopted by the University.