International training in medical education--the FAIMER institute 2002 fellowship experience

The concept of Medical Education as a specific discipline has advanced significantly. The Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER), Philadelphia, USA was formed in the year 2000 to disseminate the concept to medical schools worldwide. FAIMER Institutes are 2-year long fellowship programs that were developed in 2001 to teach education methods and leadership skills to middle and senior level academicians from medical institutions in the developing world. In addition, the Institute fellows also carry out a curriculum innovation project in their institutions, in the interim period between two U.S. based workshops. This paper describes the experience of the authors and their co-fellows who participated in the 2002 FAIMER Institute and highlights the main learning points of the course.