How many medical journals exist? According to the National Library of Medicine, there are about 30,000 titles in PubMed, and not every medical journal is indexed in this database. Of course, all of these journals cover many different disciplines, and hundreds of thousands medical students, postdoctorates and professional experts are very interested to read and share these research findings with their international communities around the world. That is why it is fundamental that we maintain these journals and their respective platforms.
Who teaches us the understanding of medical science, considering regional and cultural differences and the constant changes in technology and regulations?
It is very interesting to see that only a handful of journals are dedicated to medical education, and only a very small number focuses on the field of international medical education.
We were all forced to greatly alter our social behavior in the last 2 years. Almost overnight, society learned how to function using digital communication, which brought more people together than ever before. In particular the scholarly community came closer together and built new communities based on online education.
The founders of this new open access research journal for international medical education recognized not only how important it was to accept these recent changes, but also to put them in a sustainable and efficient framework to explain, share and discuss current educational systems, as well as new ideas.
Some of the major highlights of this new open access journal include the following topics: problem-based learning; strategies for the internationalization of medical school curricula; the popularization of joint degree programs and double degree programs (graduate courses); the development of joint courses and joint lectures with universities abroad; online courses and teaching; micro-credential and digital credits for future generations; and English medical education for medical students in non-native English countries.
In today’s globalized world, there is a necessity to educate a new generation of truly cosmopolitan medical doctors able to work with clients who are often from cultures that differ from their own. This may be achieved though the internationalization of medical education, as well as the process of purposefully integrating international, intercultural, or global aspects into medical education in order to enhance its quality and prepare graduates for professional practice in a globalized world. We welcome articles that explore recent advances and suggest new avenues for the development of internationalized curriculum for medical students.
This new journal offers an author-centered publication option, with simple and efficient workflows for an open community who wishes to rapidly share findings and ideas without restrictions.
I am proud to introduce the journal of International Medical Education. I hope that you will join our initiative as an author, reviewer or an Editorial Board Member. A team of kind and experienced editors are here to support you and your activities in this journal. Please do not hesitate to join us.