First Ottawa conference held in Asia
MALAYSIA’S Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai declared open the 15th Ottawa Conference, an international conference that provides a global forum for medical and other healthcare educators to network and share ideas on developments and innovations in medical education. This is the first time that this worldrenowned conference is being held in Asia.
It was at held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from March 9 – 13. The biennial conference is being hosted by the International Medical University of Malaysia (IMU), in conjunction with its 20th anniversary celebrations.
The Ottawa Conference included talks, forums and discussions on all aspects of the assessment of competence in both clinical and non-clinical areas, throughout the continuum of education. It is being attended by approximately 1,200 medical educationists from around the world.
IMU president Tan Sri Datuk Dr Abu Bakar Suleiman said: “IMU is very proud to be given the opportunity to host the event. This is the first time it is being held in Asia. At 20 years, IMU is very young compared to some of the world’s renowned medical schools, and yet we and our colleagues in the medical and healthcare professions in Malaysia have the rare opportunity to welcome these global educationists to Malaysia, and to enjoy robust and insightful discussions with them. It is not a privilege that we take lightly,”
“The focus at IMU is innovation, and the Ottawa Conference gives us a first-hand and very rare opportunity to learn about the latest and best innovations in medical education,” he added.
Among the distinguished names at the conference was Professor Ronald Harden, a world leader in medical education, who together with Professor Ian Hart, Professor of Medical Education at the University of Ottawa, established the Ottawa Conference in 1985.
Prof Harden said: “The pace of development in Asia has been nothing less than phenomenal, and we felt the time was right for the Ottawa Conference to be held here in Asia. There is so much that Asia can contribute, and is contributing, to medical education.
Harden said: “We are especially proud to have IMU host the event. IMU itself is a great example of innovation in medical education – its Partner Medical Schools (PMS) model is a world’s first, and has made high quality medical education accessible to more Malaysians.”
Other renowned guests at the conference was Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research USA president and chief executive officer Professor John J Norcini, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine at Bond University, Australia, who is one of Australia’s leading experts in medical education Professor Richard Hays and Leeds Institute of Medical Education director Professor Trudie Roberts.
Also present were The Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Professor Emeritus, Biostatistics and Measurement, and former Assistant Dean for Teaching Dr Ronald A. Berk and University of Queensland dean of Medicine Professor David Wilkinson.
Australian National University dean, Medicine and Health Sciences, College of Medicine Biology and Environment, Dr Nicholas Glasgow, known for his research into asthma and respiratory health, chronic disease care and health system research was also present.
From Asia, National University of Singapore associate professor, Department of Paediatrics Yong Loo Lin, and a Consultant Neonatologist in National University Hospital in Singapore Dr Zubair Amin attended.
The International Medical University began in 1992 as the International Medical College, Malaysia’s first private medical college, and was awarded university status in 1999.
IMU is also making significant progress in research. Its key areas for research are environmental health, cancer biology, stem cell research, active biomolecules and cellular mechanisms, pharmaceutics and drug delivery systems, and natural compounds and nutraceuticals. IMU is also focusing on a new area of research – that of medical education.
For more information on IMU, visit www.imu.edu.my