Health Professions Education Advancements and Innovations—International Perspectives

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Guest Editor
Department of Medical Sciences, Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University, North Haven, CT 06473, USA
Interests: health professions education;asynchronous and blended learning; competency-based learning; self-regulated learning; active learning; visual design and teaching interactions; multimedia and teaching interactions; spaced retrieval enhanced learning; intrinsic motivation and learner engagement; qualitative educational research
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Guest Editor
Department of Medical Sciences, Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University, North Haven, CT 06473, USA
Interests: health professions education; medical education; medical student education; global healthcare education

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Health profession education (HPE) stands at the forefront of ensuring excellence in healthcare delivery worldwide. HPE is a field of study and practice that focuses on the methods and approaches used to train and educate individuals in various health professions. These professions typically include medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, public health and allied health professions such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc. HPE encompasses a wide range of topics and skills. This Special Issue aims to explore diverse international perspectives on the advancements and innovations in HPE, highlighting how institutions from different countries and cultures are adapting educational strategies to meet global healthcare challenges and enhance cross-border collaboration in health education. This Special Issue will feature research articles, reviews, brief reports, case reports or commentaries that touch on one of the following domains within HPE:

  1. Curriculum development and design;
  2. Teaching and learning methods;
  3. Assessment and evaluation;
  4. Interprofessional education;
  5. Clinical and professional competence;
  6. Research in health education;
  7. Continuing professional development;
  8. Leadership and administration in health education.

HPE is a critical field because the quality of healthcare delivery significantly depends on the quality of education and training that health professionals receive. It is a dynamic field, continually evolving with advancements in medical knowledge, healthcare technologies and educational methodologies. This Special Issue intends to serve as a broad platform for authors from around the globe to contribute scholarly discourse, sharing groundbreaking ideas and research that propel HPE forward, ultimately contributing to the overarching goal of advancing healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

Dr. Douglas McHugh
Dr. Anthony Payne
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • medical education
  • health profession education
  • clinical training
  • basic science education
  • undergraduate medical education
  • graduate medical education
  • curriculum development
  • teaching methods
  • educational assessment
  • interprofessional education
  • clinical competence
  • professional competence
  • health education research
  • educational leadership
  • global healthcare education challenges
  • cross-border collaboration in health education

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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8 pages, 400 KiB  
Communication
The Co-Design of a Locally Led Health Professional Education Curriculum in Lao People’s Democratic Republic
by Amy Gray, Sysavanh Phommachanh, Niranh Phoumindr and Mayfong Mayxay
Int. Med. Educ. 2024, 3(4), 426-433; https://doi.org/10.3390/ime3040032 - 17 Oct 2024
Viewed by 711
Abstract
(1) Background: There is a need to scale and transform health professional education (HPE) globally to not only improve the quantity but also the quality of health workers. This paper describes the approach undertaken by a Health University in Lao PDR. (2) Approach: [...] Read more.
(1) Background: There is a need to scale and transform health professional education (HPE) globally to not only improve the quantity but also the quality of health workers. This paper describes the approach undertaken by a Health University in Lao PDR. (2) Approach: The HPE curriculum was designed in an iterative process with key stakeholders from both the institution and government, with external expert advice. (3) Outcomes: The curriculum was successfully developed consisting of nine core modules and one elective module, reflecting both elements seen globally in HPE curricula as well as reflecting local needs. The content and teaching methods were validated and reviewed through piloting with local education leaders. (4) Conclusions: Despite the need to scale HPE globally, there are few examples of how this can be achieved in countries in which large gaps exist in HPE capacity. This paper provides one such example, through recognizing that sustained external partnerships will still be needed for successful future implementation. Full article
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14 pages, 3152 KiB  
Article
“Discovery Towards Strategy”—Co-Creating an Institutional Innovation Strategy for Digital and Medical Education
by Chie Adachi
Int. Med. Educ. 2024, 3(4), 374-387; https://doi.org/10.3390/ime3040028 - 30 Sep 2024
Viewed by 614
Abstract
Through the pivot to emergency remote teaching during the pandemic, most universities have managed to become ‘digital’, at least in the delivery of educational programmes and business operations. And yet, the purposeful design and use of technology for education is far from the [...] Read more.
Through the pivot to emergency remote teaching during the pandemic, most universities have managed to become ‘digital’, at least in the delivery of educational programmes and business operations. And yet, the purposeful design and use of technology for education is far from the reality of such a pivot and remains difficult to achieve. While most universities outline some level of digital transformation as part of their innovation narrative and strategies, there is only a limited number of universities that adopt the culture of co-creation. This paper illustrates a bottom-up approach to the co-creation of a new digital and medical education strategy in a London-based Russell Group university to bring on change that is fit for purpose. The findings include the key insights, specifically, the five key values of what the community believed to be crucial—(i) broadening access to education, (ii) flexibility, efficiency and convenience, (iii) authentic learning, (iv) business proposition, and (v) pastoral care; and the eight areas of opportunities and challenges—(i) human relationships, (ii) co-creation, (iii) digital engagement, (iv) digital pedagogy, (v) digital literacy, (vi) edtech and IT infrastructure, (vii) support, and (viii) digital assessment and feedback. This paper also outlines the strategic project plans that were generated and since implemented as a result of the co-creation process. The limitations and future directions of this study are also noted. Full article
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27 pages, 346 KiB  
Article
Integration of Immunology in a Systems-Based Osteopathic Medical Curriculum
by Zian Shabbir, Layla Mazdeyasnan, Naila Iqbal, Samuel Kadavakollu, Mahboob Qureshi and Reena Lamichhane-Khadka
Int. Med. Educ. 2024, 3(3), 257-283; https://doi.org/10.3390/ime3030021 - 1 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1535
Abstract
Immunology is an important component of the medical curriculum. It provides a foundation for understanding the cellular and molecular processes by which the body protects itself from external substances and the immunological responses that contribute to the development of many illnesses. The inclusion [...] Read more.
Immunology is an important component of the medical curriculum. It provides a foundation for understanding the cellular and molecular processes by which the body protects itself from external substances and the immunological responses that contribute to the development of many illnesses. The inclusion of immunology in an osteopathic medical curriculum is essential to understanding the body’s defense systems as well as the alignment of osteopathic concepts with immunology. By encompassing innate and adaptive immunity, immunology reflects the interconnectedness of the body’s systems and the foundation for self-regulation inherent in osteopathy. A problem facing medical educators is determining how to facilitate students’ learning of immunological concepts in a way that will help them retain and apply the material throughout their clinical years and beyond. This paper aims to provide an immunology education framework designed to effectively integrate immunology topics across the preclinical courses of an osteopathic medical curriculum. Drawing insights from an extensive review of the literature and current medical curricula, we propose an integrative curriculum model that broadly incorporates fundamental concepts of immunology across multiple disciplines and systems-based courses horizontally as well as vertically over the preclinical years using clinical presentations and laboratory findings and further connecting them to osteopathic principles. This integrative curriculum will augment medical students’ understanding of immunology, making them better able to connect core concepts with clinical applications and enhance their application of immunological concepts in osteopathic patient care in alignment with the NBOME guidelines. Using the proposed integrative medical curriculum may better prepare medical students for providing holistic medical care and guidance to their future patients. Full article
22 pages, 762 KiB  
Article
Impact of Global Health Scholarship Programs in the Faculty of Medicine at Mbarara University of Science and Technology
by Jonans Tusiimire, Miriam Josephine Nakiwala, Brian Turigye, Daphine Ansiimire, Annet Kembabazi, Stephen Asiimwe and Joseph Ngonzi
Int. Med. Educ. 2024, 3(3), 190-211; https://doi.org/10.3390/ime3030017 - 24 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1044
Abstract
In recognition of the critical role of residency programs in narrowing healthcare inequalities, Global Health scholarships were introduced at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) in 2011. Since then, at least 154 postgraduate students in priority programs have benefited. We conducted an [...] Read more.
In recognition of the critical role of residency programs in narrowing healthcare inequalities, Global Health scholarships were introduced at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) in 2011. Since then, at least 154 postgraduate students in priority programs have benefited. We conducted an online cross-sectional survey to examine how the scholarships and beneficiaries have impacted MUST and the community. Fifty (50) beneficiaries, representing 32.5%, responded, of whom 36 (72%) were alumni. Most respondents were males (n = 30; 60%) pursing Master of Medicine (n = 29; 58%) or Master of Nursing Science (n = 20; 40%) programs. The scholarship schemes included First Mile (n = 29; 58%), Kayanja (n = 12; 24%), Paiko (n = 5; 10%) and Seed (n = 4; 8%). The majority of the scholarships supported both tuition and research fees (n = 41; 82%), the rest being partial. Career advancement was undertaken by eight (16%) of the scholars in the form of fellowships (n = 3; 6%), other masters (n = 3; 6%) and PhDs (n = 3; 6%), with some students having attained a combination of these. All scholars belonged to at least one health professional association. Over 88% (n = 32) of the alumni and 28% (n = 4) of the students were employed. The majority of those employed were in the public sector (n = 24; 66.7%), mainly the health sector (n = 18; 50%), academia (n = 14; 38.9) or both (n = 4; 11.1%). There was a high impact on health care provision, undergraduate training and research carried out by the scholars both during training and post-graduation. High levels of career satisfaction, scholarship impact and academic program relevance were reported. The findings provide insights on how low-fund specialty scholarships can have a far-reaching impact on local training, health care and research in low- and middle-income countries. Full article
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Review

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15 pages, 1832 KiB  
Review
Transforming a Psychiatry Curriculum: Narrative Review of Essential Elements
by Lillian Ng, Alisha Vara, Ashwini Datt, David B. Menkes, Nicholas R. Hoeh, Kiri Prentice and Frederick Sundram
Int. Med. Educ. 2024, 3(3), 316-330; https://doi.org/10.3390/ime3030024 - 16 Aug 2024
Viewed by 810
Abstract
Introduction: In this narrative review, we identified concepts related to the process of transforming a psychiatry curriculum for New Zealand medical students. Method: A literature search was performed on four databases (Embase, Medline, PsycInfo, and Scopus) for articles related to curriculum [...] Read more.
Introduction: In this narrative review, we identified concepts related to the process of transforming a psychiatry curriculum for New Zealand medical students. Method: A literature search was performed on four databases (Embase, Medline, PsycInfo, and Scopus) for articles related to curriculum development in psychiatry, including relevant aspects of culture and technology. Results: Ninety-three articles met the inclusion criteria. Three main themes were identified: the needs of learners; curriculum frameworks that optimise learning; and the role of technology. The key features of an effective psychiatry curriculum are the extent to which it integrates with other disciplines, develops key competencies, supports authentic learning, and promotes cultural safety. Conclusions: Transforming curricula is an iterative process that prioritises learners’ needs, establishes psychiatry within the teaching context, integrates learning evidence, and responds to the changing demands of society. The findings from this review apply to medical curricula more generally: a well-integrated specialist curriculum, in this case psychiatry, enables medical students to build essential competencies and depends upon effective collaboration with stakeholders, attention to cultural safety, and incorporating technology into the teaching context. Full article
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Other

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7 pages, 1038 KiB  
Commentary
Equipping Future Physicians with Artificial Intelligence Competencies through Student Associations
by Spencer Hopson, Carson Mildon, Kyle Hassard, Paul M. Urie and Dennis Della Corte
Int. Med. Educ. 2024, 3(4), 388-394; https://doi.org/10.3390/ime3040029 - 1 Oct 2024
Viewed by 697
Abstract
Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) in the medical sector necessitate the development of AI literacy among future physicians. This article explores the pioneering efforts of the AI in Medicine Association (AIM) at Brigham Young University, which offers a framework for undergraduate pre-medical students [...] Read more.
Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) in the medical sector necessitate the development of AI literacy among future physicians. This article explores the pioneering efforts of the AI in Medicine Association (AIM) at Brigham Young University, which offers a framework for undergraduate pre-medical students to gain hands-on experience, receive principled education, explore ethical considerations, and learn appraisal of AI models. By supplementing formal, university-organized pre-medical education with a student-led, faculty-supported introduction to AI through an extracurricular academic association, AIM alleviates apprehensions regarding AI in medicine early and empowers students preparing for medical school to navigate the evolving landscape of AI in healthcare responsibly. Full article
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