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Producing a socially accountable medical school: AMEE Guide No. 109.
Charles Boelen1, David Pearson2, Arthur Kaufman3
1a WHO Headquarters, Sciez-sur-Léman , France.
Medical Teacher
|September 10, 2016
Summary
Medical schools must be socially accountable, producing graduates prepared for healthcare challenges and community impact. This guide explores social accountability in health professions education to improve health systems.
Area of Science:
- Health Professions Education
- Public Health
- Medical Education
Background:
- Global health systems face increasing demand, aging populations, and resource limitations.
- Academic institutions and medical schools are crucial for health sector improvement.
- The concept of Social Accountability of Medical Schools (SAMS) addresses these challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore and detail the concept of Social Accountability in health professions education.
- To provide examples illustrating Social Accountability in practice.
- To identify strategies for overcoming obstacles to implementing Social Accountability.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual exploration and definition of Social Accountability.
- Case examples and practical illustrations.
- Analysis of implementation barriers and facilitators.
Main Results:
- Social Accountability extends beyond professional competence to community impact.
- It requires re-orientation of education, research, and service commitments.
- Mutually beneficial partnerships are key to achieving SAMS.
Conclusions:
- Social Accountability is vital for creating just and efficient health services.
- The concept is applicable to all health-related education, not just medical schools.
- Implementing SAMS requires a commitment to community engagement and demonstrable impact.
