A fellowship program to advance teaching of the basic sciences in foreign medical schools

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• International Health
• Biosciences

Background:

• Global health advancement necessitates a strong foundation in basic medical sciences for physicians.
• The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) established a fellowship program in 1983 to bolster bioscience education in foreign medical schools, particularly in underserved nations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of the ECFMG fellowship program in enhancing the knowledge and teaching abilities of international bioscience educators.
• To evaluate the program's success in achieving its objectives of strengthening bioscience education in economically deprived countries.

Main Methods:

• Annual awards granted to 12-14 international bioscience teachers for a 1-year fellowship in US medical schools.
• Fellows receive tutelage from US preceptors to expand their scientific knowledge and pedagogical skills.
• Data collection involved feedback from fellowship completers and their foreign deans.

Main Results:

• To date, 97 fellows from 69 institutions across 32 countries have participated.
• Fellows trained under 69 preceptors at 52 US medical schools.
• The program has implemented incentives and safeguards to ensure fellows return to their home countries post-fellowship.

Conclusions:

• The ECFMG fellowship program is effectively meeting its stated objectives.
• The initiative contributes significantly to improving bioscience education standards in developing countries.
• The program plays a vital role in advancing global health through enhanced medical education.