Number
525
Name
Strengthening International Collaboration in Medical Science Education through the IAMSE Ambassador Program
Date & Time
Sunday, June 7, 2026, 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Location Name
Oglethorpe Ballroom
Speakers
Authors
Snehal Mehta, Ross University School of Medicine, Barbados
Elisabeth Schlegel, Alice Walton School of Medicine
Rosalba Gutierrez Olvera, Facultad de Medicina UNAM, Mexico
Sireesha Bala Arja, Avalon University School of Medicine, Curacao
Krishna Mohan Surapaneni, Panimalar Medical College Hospital, India
Kevilan Andrew, St George's University, Grenada
Fatma Abdelsalam Elkhamisy, King Salman International University, Egypt
Henry Vasconez, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador
Uptol Chowdry, Aga Khan University, Kenya
Presentation Topic(s)
Other
Description
PURPOSE
Individuals worldwide are more interconnected through media and advances in
communication than at any other time in history. This could be described as a
form of globalization. Ironically this prevailing sense of connectedness may
further an apathetic attitude toward the unique components of worldwide
culture and customs, often leading to a dominance of mainly western norms.
In medical education terms, globalisation includes collaboration and
knowledge sharing through faculty development activities such as research,
scholarly output, service and training. However, the cultural,
socio-political, socio-economic, and even geographic challenges that exist
within and between countries can make this collaboration challenging unless
educators are supported and enabled to engage with the notion of between
country knowledge sharing.
METHODS
The Ambassador Program began in 2020 and was re-launched in 2024. The
original design has not changed with the focus on expanding IAMSE’s global
reach by engaging IAMSE members as representatives (Ambassadors) from various
countries to promote and help facilitate faculty and student development
through scholarly activities, service, and leadership opportunities.
RESULTS
This presentation will highlight the current Ambassador countries with
specific examples of activities and features of learning and teaching
appropriate to their culture and country context.
CONCLUSION
A key focus of the Ambassador Program is to encourage medical educators to
consider what they do as academics with a global cross-cultural lens. This
may be achieved by in-country Ambassadors who are passionate about advancing
professional development amongst their colleagues and students and are
supported to collaborate with other Ambassadors and engage with IAMSE.
Encouraging an understanding of economic, political and cultural realities
and their ramifications on teaching and learning is highly important in the
world today. A heightened international appreciation may spark more
cross-cultural research and cooperation leading to overall enrichment of
health professions curricula world-wide.
Individuals worldwide are more interconnected through media and advances in
communication than at any other time in history. This could be described as a
form of globalization. Ironically this prevailing sense of connectedness may
further an apathetic attitude toward the unique components of worldwide
culture and customs, often leading to a dominance of mainly western norms.
In medical education terms, globalisation includes collaboration and
knowledge sharing through faculty development activities such as research,
scholarly output, service and training. However, the cultural,
socio-political, socio-economic, and even geographic challenges that exist
within and between countries can make this collaboration challenging unless
educators are supported and enabled to engage with the notion of between
country knowledge sharing.
METHODS
The Ambassador Program began in 2020 and was re-launched in 2024. The
original design has not changed with the focus on expanding IAMSE’s global
reach by engaging IAMSE members as representatives (Ambassadors) from various
countries to promote and help facilitate faculty and student development
through scholarly activities, service, and leadership opportunities.
RESULTS
This presentation will highlight the current Ambassador countries with
specific examples of activities and features of learning and teaching
appropriate to their culture and country context.
CONCLUSION
A key focus of the Ambassador Program is to encourage medical educators to
consider what they do as academics with a global cross-cultural lens. This
may be achieved by in-country Ambassadors who are passionate about advancing
professional development amongst their colleagues and students and are
supported to collaborate with other Ambassadors and engage with IAMSE.
Encouraging an understanding of economic, political and cultural realities
and their ramifications on teaching and learning is highly important in the
world today. A heightened international appreciation may spark more
cross-cultural research and cooperation leading to overall enrichment of
health professions curricula world-wide.
Presentation Tag(s)
International Presenter