World Medical Experts Discussed the Importance of Strengthening Medical Education System at AAHCI Southeast Asia Regional Meeting 2023
Medical education is the upstream for building a global health system. The transformation of the education system and learning process plays a significant role in creating optimal health services. For this reason, it is necessary to strengthen the upstream sector in order to realize these ideals.
As the regional office for The Alliance of Academic Health Centers International (AAHCI) in the Southeast Asia region, the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia (FKUI) is holding AAHCI Southeast Asia Regional Meeting 2023 at Hotel Aryaduta, Badung, Bali, on January 11-12, 2023. This activity is the fourth regional meeting held by FKUI after its previous appointment as AAHCI Southeast Asia Regional Office in 2018.
In her opening remarks, the Rector of Universitas Indonesia (UI), represented by Secretary of UI dr. Agustin Kusumayati, M.Sc, Ph.D., who also currently serves as the President of Asia Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health (APACPH) said, “This meeting reaffirms UI’s position and commitment to continue to be the best institution at the national, regional, and even global levels. One of the keys to supporting this goal is collaborating and working together. I hope this meeting can become the right medium to generate the best ideas and recommendations to support the advancement of global health.”
With the theme “Partnership for Preparedness: Improving Response and Recovery in the Southeast Asia Region and Globally”, this meeting is expected to be a medium for discussion to discuss priority issues and potential challenges in the field of medical education and health services globally, especially in the Southeast Asia region. All AAHCI members can exchange thoughts and ideas regarding responses and forms of regional and global collaboration that will be taken in dealing with these issues. Thus, this meeting can produce strategic solutions that involve collaboration among AAHCI members in supporting global health transformation by strengthening the medical education and service system.
In its implementation, this activity invited 27 experts as speakers and facilitators from a number of AAHCI member countries. The first day was filled with a Keynote Presentation presented the Rector from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), the United States, Cam Patterson, M.D, M.B.A. This session was facilitated by the Chief Academic Officer, Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the United States, Alison J. Whelan, MD. Meanwhile, on the second day, the activity was run with the Keynote Presentation from the Vice President and Dean, School of Health Professions, Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS), the United States, Donald Combs, Ph.D, FSSH. The presentation was followed by the topic of Residency Programs: The Importance of Identity Formation and Growth, which was facilitated by the Director of International Relations, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Koh Dow Rhoon, MD, Ph.D.
Several topics discussed at this meeting included Infectious Disease Threats in the 21st Century: Preparedness and Response; Burnout and Well-being: Training, Supporting, and Adapting; The Specialist Gap: Responding to Urban and Rural Area Needs; and Leadership Training for the Transforming Academic Health Center.
In his closing remarks, Dean of FKUI Prof. Dr. dr. Ari Fahrial Syam, SpPD-KGEH, MMB. welcomed all the delegates. “I welcome all delegates of the AAHCI Southeast Asia Regional Meeting 2023 on Dewata Island, Bali. It is an honor for us as the host to welcome all representatives of AAHCI member medical education institutions. Let us make this meeting a momentum for constructive discussion in responding to global challenges and issues in the fields of education and health services. I hope that through this meeting there will be stronger collaboration and bonds between AAHCI members, especially in the Southeast Asia region,” said Prof. Ari.
The opening was attended virtually by Steven L. Kanter, MD as the Special Advisor to the President and CEO of AAMC, Executive Director of AAHCI. Through his remarks, Kanter expressed his pride in being able to collaborate with medical institutions in the Southeast Asian region, especially FKUI through AAHCI. “I hope that this alliance can continue to exist and be able to accommodate all the needs of its members in the fields of education, health services, and research as the main foundation for the establishment of AAHCI,” said Kanter.
AAHCI is an alliance of world medical education institutions that are part of The Alliance of Academic Health Centers (AAHC), a non-profit organization based in the United States that focuses on community welfare and health. AAHCI’s mission is to develop the full potential of every world health institution in realizing global health stability through optimizing the education system, health services, and research. This is expected to strengthen the adaptation and transformation mechanism of AAHCI members in dealing with changes in the health service system which also involves advocacy, leadership, policy formulation, and decision-making in the health sector.
Author: Public Relations of FKUI| Editor: Maudisha
