JHAH family medicine residents rank first in Kingdom
Saudi doctors training in family medicine at the Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH) have ranked first in the Kingdom, having achieved outstanding exam results, according to the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS).
Family medicine, a key part of primary care, is a cornerstone of Vision 2030 for Saudi health care reform and increasing the number of primary care doctors is associated with multiple benefits to the health of the population.
Dr. Hadi Al-Enazy, director of JHAH’s Family Medicine Residency Program, said: “JHAH’s contribution to Vision 2030 and health care reform started with 14 residents. These future family physicians will have a significant impact on the lives of our people.”
An increase of one primary care doctor per 10,000 people has been shown to result in: A 5 percent decrease in outpatient visits, a 5.5 percent decrease in inpatient admissions, a 10.9 percent decrease in emergency room visits, and a 7.2 percent decrease in surgeries. Residency is postgraduate medical training for a licensed physician who is interested in a particular specialization. JHAH’s four-year Family Medicine Residency Program is relatively young compared to other institutions in the Kingdom. Despite this, in the two years since launch, JHAH has the highest number of certified trainers in family medicine in the region, providing cutting-edge teaching methods that include simulations and an immersion in an evidence-based care model within JHAH’s proactive, patientcentric primary care service. As a joint venture, the JHAH blends the pre-existing decade’s long tradition of quality medical care provided by the Saudi Aramco Medical Services Organization (SAMSO), with the educational and clinical strengths of Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Dr. Daniele Rigamonti, FACS, chief executive, said: “JHAH is at the forefront of primary care provision in the Kingdom. These excellent results demonstrate the strength at the heart of our approach, bringing together the talented next generation of Saudi doctors with worldleading medical expertise.”
In 2016, the SCFHS accredited JHAH to offer medical residencies for Saudi physicians in five areas: Pathology, pharmacy, emergency services, anesthesia and family medicine.