10th Anniversary CMCL - FAIMER Regional Institute
lksuk ykscku eqjZ
N
CMCL - FAIMER Regional Institute
CO LLE GE
2 0 0 6 - 2 015
IA CHRIST
Footprints on Sand
DHIANA LU
M E DI C A L
Christian Medical College, Ludhiana & Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research Philadelphia, USA
Ten years of CMCL-FAIMER Regional Institute We have put together all our memories and many of the success stories of the CMCL fellows at one place. This huge task needed a lot of inputs like getting together all stories, editing, typesetting, collecting photographs and statistics. The real power of networking, the strength of FAIMER, worked marvelously and we got all fellows and faculty chipping in to help us. So, here we present our small effort to share the success of 10 years of CMCL-FAIMER………
We acknowledge the contribution of all fellows for sending their stories; Stacey (FAIMER), Anshu (2007 Fellow) and Satendra (2011 fellow) provided data and helped with editing; Meenu, Derly, Swetha and Rahul (Pharmacology) worked for the book. Editors Dr. Dinesh Badyal | Dr. Tejinder Singh
CMCL-FAIMER Ludhiana - Local Organizing Team
Tejinder | Gagandeep | Monika | Dinesh | Aroma | Jugesh | Bharti | Inderpreet | Sheena Copyright © CMCL-FAIMER Regional Institute, CMC Ludhiana 2015
CMCL - FAIMER Regional Institute Christian Medical College, Ludhiana & Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research
10 years of advancing education
Preface It was in 2005, when I had gone to Philadelphia for the second onsite session of my Fellowship, that the idea of a regional FAIMER institute was floated. The original choice of the college was Vellore, with Ludhiana and Mumbai playing supportive roles, but for some reason, it did not materialize. The idea was then enlarged to include separate regional institutes at Ludhiana and KEM. Later that year in September, a preparatory consultation was held at Ludhiana to conceptualize the form and services of the regional institute. The first batch was enrolled in 2006, with an intake of 12 fellows and it was a tough task to get 12 teachers from India to be enrolled for the program. Personal equations and calls helped to get that number. As the news of two regional institutes at Ludhiana and Mumbai spread across the medical schools, the entry started becoming more competitive. To cope up with the large number of applicants, the intake capacity was increased to 16. A year and a half later, a third regional institute at Coimbatore also took shape. It will be for posterity to judge if we have been successful in our mission. However, as I look back at these eventful, action-packed 10 years, I do get a personal sense of satisfaction. We have been able to, at least, touch many lives and as you go through the stories that follow, you will start agreeing with me. There were challenges, there were tough times but help was only a mail away. We have not only survived but thrived and thrived well. Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of Sikhs, had said “ inhi ki kripa se saje hum hain, nahin mo so garib karore pare hain” (I AM WHAT I AM BECAUSE OF MY FOLLOWERS, OTHERWISE THERE ARE MANY LIKE ME IN THIS WORLD). I have no hesitation in admitting this humble philosophy. We are , what we are today, because of the strong team that goes into making CMCL-FAIMER Regional Institute. The team has members from Ludhiana as well as a number of other medical colleges in India and each one deserves the credit for bringing this FRI to this height. The administration of CMC Ludhiana has been ever supporting of this cause and without their cooperation, we would not have scaled these heights. The FAIMER Institute Directors, who reposed their faith in our abilities, the FAIMER staff who responded to our distress calls at extremely short notices and the FAIMER Faculty who helped us to grow is all part of this endeavour. Today, we have moved clouds. Tomorrow we shall try mountains! Tejinder Singh Program Director CMCL-FAIMER Regional Institute Vice Principal Professor of Pediatrics & Medical Education, CMC, Ludhiana
Introduction Ten years after the start of the Indian FAIMER Regional Institutes, it is time to reflect on the lessons we have learned. International development efforts face many challenges: alignment with local needs, persistent dependency, and development of trust. Global education development efforts are particularly challenged by underestimation of personnel effort needed, and variation in academic cultures and incentives. The FAIMER faculty development program has also faced these hazards. Our work in global capacity building, however, has taught us using projects, building community, teaching leadership across cultures, and amplifying change through development of the field. It has also taught us the importance of “pull” not “push” local capacity building to run faculty development, generosity, openness to bi-directional learning, and recognition of the partner as a person. The model we have created has proven to be an effective vehicle for strengthening educational leadership, management, and methodology skills, and developing a community of educators, and for overcoming many of these challenges. Partnerships are built on personal relationships, and personal relationships are built on trust. We work from the simple premise that we should do what we say we are going to do. The corollary to this kind of predictability is that we are carefully constrained on what we promise. Our partners are generally able to anticipate our actions and reactions. We learned that it is worthwhile to invest in face to face communication to begin a global relationship, with follow up by almost any other means of communication. Free internet based tools like Skype have proven to be most useful since contact can be initiated from partners with limited resources. In preparation for a new relationship, we often discuss potential relationships with others in our network to gain additional perspectives and better understanding of regional and cultural issues. The most important lesson learned is to acknowledge the participant as a person. We write a lot about the patient as a person; not enough is written about the student as a person. Participants in global partnerships have stories that reveal important values, priorities and perspectives. I recently asked one of our Fellows when his family first obtained electricity at their home. “Don't ask me about electricity,” he said, “ask me when I had my first pair of shoes” (answers: electricity – when he went to university, shoes - when he was 12 years old). This Fellow now has a MPHE and is the Principal of a College of Nursing. Values and priorities come into sharper focus when the back story is known. The lessons learned in 10 years of professional development in India are to build community, and teach leadership, management and education methods using authentic local projects. Through these efforts, we have been able to maintain alignment with local needs, avoid persistent dependency, and develop trust. Global initiatives are most successfully accomplished when the energy comes from the partner seeking assistance, and generosity is the driving value. And personal stories, like those about electricity and shoes, are the glue that keeps us connected. The CMCL-FRI team and its Fellows exemplify these values. From the robust planning session months before the start of the first session, to the vigorous distance learning discussions, to the gradual assumption of the teaching and facilitation, the CMCL-FRI team has made us all proud. Congratulations! William Burdick, MD, MSEd. Vice President for Education, FAIMER, Philadelphia, USA
Message from Ralf Graves Associate Director, FAIMER Regional Institutes
CMCL-FRI 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY REFLECTION I wasn't around to witness the birth of the CMCL-FRI in January 2006. I joined the FAIMER staff in early 2007 during a “growth spurt” in the family of regional institutes (three new programs were started between February 2007 and March 2008). I met Dr. Tejinder Singh and his core FRI faculty team at our first DAFFRI (Directors and Faculty of FAIMER Regional Institutes) meeting held in Philadelphia in the summer of 2007. We had a lively and productive three-day encounter that forged the great working relationships that continue today. It is therefore a great pleasure to be able to share the celebration of the ten-year anniversary of this remarkably successful program with these friends as well as the many additional faculty who have joined them over the years. One of the great distinguishing strengths of the CMCL-FRI has been its commitment to developing its own faculty. As of 2014, 62 faculty members have taught at the CMCL-FRI, of which 48 have been FAIMER fellows. These are fellows who have excelled during participation in their own fellowship, and been invited to continue their journey with the program by becoming faculty. Thanks to the visionary leadership of its Director, the CMCL-FRI was the first regional institute to undertake conducting its own annual DAFFRI workshops for local faculty development. Local volunteer faculty are the key to the sustainability of the FAIMER Regional Institutes in India and the reason why our successors will be writing here in another ten years celebrating the 20 year anniversary of the CMCL-FRI. After ten years, then, it is time to say a massive THANK YOU to all those who have voluntarily given so generously of their time and effort to make this program the great success it is. Congratulations and Happy Anniversary to all the faculty, staff and fellows of the CMCL-FRI!! Ralf Rundgren Graves Associate Director, FAIMER Regional Institutes
Message from Director Christian Medical College, Ludhiana
It is my privilege to welcome the Fellows, Faculty and other dignitaries to the tenth anniversary celebrations of CMCL-FAIMER Regional Institute. Established in 2006, the regional institute banks heavily on the capacity and expertise of the faculty of Christian Medical College, Ludhiana. We have been contributing to better medical education by virtue of various innovative methods for teaching and learning. On its own as well as a team with various bodies like the University and Medical Council of India, CMC Ludhiana has adopted and adapted new techniques in education and assessment and served as a leader to disseminate these techniques to various Medical Colleges in the region. I am happy to note that a galaxy of experts in medical education is sharing its expertise with the previous and new fellows and hope that they will act as brand ambassadors of quality medical education across the globe. I also congratulate the graduating Fellows and take this opportunity to thank the FAIMER leadership under Dr. William Burdick for placing their trust in us. I am also grateful to Dr. Tejinder Singh, CMC-FAIMER Course Director and his team for upholding the highest expertise in this endeavour. With best wishes, Dr. Abraham G Thomas Director CMC, Ludhiana
Message from Principal Christian Medical College, Ludhiana
On behalf of the academic community here at the Christian Medical College Ludhiana, I extend a warm welcome to all the participants at this special session being organized by the CMCLFAMER Regional Institute at Ludhiana. Looking back, it has been a dedicated effort by the team to provide the much needed impetus to the process of Medical education in this country. I understand that over 1000 Medical teachers have benefitted from the efforts of the FAIMER faculty over the last decade. As you plan and organize Research activities together, I am confident that this highly interactive course will introduce concepts and principles which will help you acquire a framework to understand their applications for research in Medical education. Wishing you the very best. Sincerely Dr. Bobby John Principal CMC, Ludhiana
Message from Page Morahan Co-Director, FAIMER Institute
I applaud the CMCL-FAIMER Regional Institute on reaching 10 years of continuous education leadership development. It has been my great honor and privilege to work with the director, Tejinder Singh, and several core faculty over the years and see them deepen their expertise in health professions education, scholarship and leadership. The CMCL FRI is definitely a mature fellowship program with capable faculty and alumni who have become faculty. The CMCL FRI faculty can be justifiably proud of over 100 health professions faculty from India and abroad who have gained knowledge and skills during their fellowships. Importantly, the graduates are now using this expertise to improve education in their own schools to improve health care practitioners in India and to develop the field of health professions education in India. To CMCL FRI, a job well done! Page Morahan, Founding Co-Director, FAIMER Institute Philadelphia, USA
Message from Janet Grant Faculty, FAIMER Institute
Celebrating Ten Years of FAIMER at Christian Medical College, Ludhiana How is it possible that in all my years of schooling in England, in all my reading romantic histories of India, in knowing so many parents of my contemporaries who had been born and raised in India, that I had never heard of Ludhiana? A huge industrial city, some of whose products I have undoubtedly bought in England, in an area with 3.5 million people (35 Lakhs, as I now know) and I never had heard of it, until FAIMER. I am not a person for details. Yesterday, I had to ask my daughter for the date of her birthday. So I certainly cannot remember when I first came to the CMCL-FRI. But I came with Bill, Debby and Ralf and also on my own. But how can you ever feel alone at CMCL-FRI? You cannot! There are so many people, so much energy, so much creativity. The halo of so many students from all over India who will benefit from the projects, and the new skills and ways of thinking that the fellows have acquired is really great. There is an ever-increasing faculty. I have watched them all, starting as wary educational ducklings and emerging as beautiful swans, serenely dominating the glassy lake of educational ideas, and navigating the flow of innovation from west to east. Unaware that they are turning the tide and that the west has as much to learn from them, as they have learned from the west. I remember so many evenings of singing, dancing and telling jokes that I could not understand but it made me happy anyway. I remember the food that appears to tempt and surprise, and watching kites flying high in the sky; evenings of gossip and talking about ideas; my own personal CPD sessions about what is happening in Indian medical education, Bollywood, politics and cricket. How does this wonderful process continue, with no loss of momentum and burgeoning influence? I think that it is because CMCL-FRI has a wonderful team, and role models of transformational leadership with an Indian-style. So every year, the team is made up of both the faculty and the Fellows. All in this adventure, scaling the medical education heights, tethered together, forever. I am so privileged to have watched this from the side-lines. And I will watch as you continue on this journey. And now that I know where Ludhiana is & have the cardigans hanging in my wardrobe in London to prove it. Thank you so much for everything you are doing, for which you deserve huge admiration and congratulations. Professor Janet Grant Director, Centre for Medical Education in Context Hampton, Middlesex, UK
Message from Debby Diserens Co-Director, FAIMER Institute
Dear Friends, Congratulations on 10 years of contributions to medical education! My first visit to India and to a FAIMER Regional Institute was to Ludhiana in 2006. Details of the memories of this “innocent abroad” on that first visit are still vivid. The Kite Festival was happening filling the sky…the joy of all those kites in the sky! I came back to Ludhiana again…and again, each time feeling that I was coming home to friends. We shared the FAIMER curriculum, a common language of action. The last time I was there, there was an unusual cold snap and we huddled around space heaters, but the connections among us were what really kept us warm. There was a total eclipse of the sun that year visible at the southern tip of India. We watched the changing shape of light together through the day. It seems a metaphor for the process of work on projects that happens during an Institute–starting feeling “full of light” then challenged, feeling a loss, and then renewed and stronger as the light returns, re-formed to purpose and clarity. Thanks Tejinder, Dinesh, Jugesh, Gagan, Sheena, Chetna and all of you, other CMCL faculty. Please know that you have touched my life and changed it…and how grateful I am to you for the memories of our work together. And you Fellows, whose projects are still living in my mind, thank you for what you have taught me. Your stories, visions, and aspirations have been “good medicine” for me…and, I believe, for the world too. Wishing and dreaming for you all, another ten years of light-wise transformation, Debby Diserens, Former Director of Development and Evaluation at FAIMER USA
Message from Dinesh Badyal Co-Director, FAIMER Institute
I feel privileged and blissful that CMCL-FAIMER is celebrating its 10th year. The journey of 10 years is full of memorable events happening at CMC. It is a delightful imagination to think about the time when we just started with a national consultation for FAIMER at CMC and now we are celebrating 10 years of the institute. On the way we got our team trained equipped for higher education and to handle more and more demand of faculty development. The medical education is in transition phase in India. There is huge a demand for faculty development. We as MCI Nodal center and FAIMER Regional center can contribute to the critical mass of faculty urgently needed in our country to strengthen the faculty development efforts for the mandate of my Institute and Government regulating agencies as both are very actively involved in health professional's development. Dinesh Badyal, Program Co-Director CMCL-FAIMER Regional Institute Professor & Head, Pharmacology, Professor of Medical Education CMC, Ludhiana
N et wo r k i n g o f Fe l l ows
159 fellows from 6 countries in 10 years
33
6
1
1
India
= 146
Malaysia
=
6
Nepal
=
3
Oman
=
2
Bangladesh
=
1
Saudi Arabia
=
1
CMCL FAIMER fellows 159 fellows from 6 countries in 10 years S.No
Country
Number
1.
India
146 (130 from States + 16 from UT)
2.
Malaysia
6
3.
Nepal
3
4.
Oman
2
5.
Bangladesh
1
6.
Saudi Arabia
1
State
No.
State
No.
UT
No.
Punjab
33
Haryana
1
Chandigarh
4
Maharashtra
22
MP
7
Delhi
11
Karnataka
15
UP
6
Puducherry
1
Gujarat
12
Uttrakhand
6
—
—
WB
6
Sikkim
4
—
—
Rajasthan
4
JK
3
—
—
TN
4
Odisha
2
—
—
Seemandhra
1
Telangana
1
—
—
Tripura
1
Assam
1
—
—
Manipur
1
—
—
—
—
CMCL-FAIMER Faculty (2006-2015) International S.No
Name
Institute
1
Danette McKinley
FAIMER, Philadelphia, USA
2
Debby Disserns
FAIMER, Philadelphia, USA
3
Jack Boulet
FAIMER, Philadelphia, USA
4
Janet Grant
University College London Medical School, UK
5
Jaqueline van Wyk
SAFRI, South Africa
6
Page Morahan
FAIMER, Philadelphia, USA
7
Ralf Graves
FAIMER, Philadelphia, USA
8
Sanam Anwar
Oman Medical college, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
9
Soumendra Sahoo
Melaka-Manipal Medical College, Malaysia
10
Soumya Bhattacharya
B.P.Koirala Institute of Health sciences, Dharan Nepal.
11
Stacey Friedman
FAIMER, Philadelphia, USA
12
Stewart Menin
Sau Paulo, Brazil
13
William P Burdick
FAIMER, Philadelphia, USA
14
Zahra Ladhani
Shifa College of Nursing, Islamabad, Pakistan.
National S.No
Name
Institute
1
Adkoli BV
Centre for Health Informatics NHP, New Delhi
2
Anil Kapoor
Peoples College of Medical Sciences, Bhopal
3
Anshu
Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha.
4
Anumeha Bhagat
Government Medical College, Chandigarh
5
Arun Jamkar
Vice Chancellor, MUHS, Pune
6
Avinash Supe
Dean KEM, Director Seth GS-FAIMER, Mumbai
7
Bharti Uppal
Christian Medical College, Ludhiana.
8
Bipin Batra
National Board of Examinations, New Delhi
9
Biplab Jamatia
Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi
10
Chandrakant Patankar
SGS Medical College, Mumbai
11
Chetna Desai
BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad.
12
Ciraj AM
Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal
13
Daljit Singh
Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana.
14
Dinesh K Badyal
Christian Medical College, Ludhiana.
15
Gagandeep Kwatra
Christian Medical College, Ludhiana. : 1:
Contd.......
CMCL-FAIMER Faculty (2006-2015) National S.No
Name
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52
Harpreet Kapoor Hem Lata Badyal Inderpreet Sohi Jugesh Chhatwal Jyoti Nath Modi K. Ramnarayan Karuna Datta Medha Joshi Minnie Faith K Monika Sharma Mrunal Ketkar Navneet Kaur Nirmala Rege Parmod Goyal Payal Bansal Piyush Gupta Praveen Singh Punam Verma Punita Salwan Rakesh Dixit Rashmi Vyas Richa Ghay Thaman Rita Sood Sandeep Dogra Sarabmeet Singh Lehl Satendra Singh Sheena Singh Shubha Chandorkar Shyamala Hande Sucheta P. Dandekar Suman P Singh Tejinder Singh Thomas Chacko Vimal Vimala Thomas Vinod Pallath Vivek Saoji
Institute Director Academics, SGHS Eye Institute, Mohali Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana. Christian Medical College, Ludhiana. Christian Medical College, Ludhiana. Peoples College Of Medical Sciences, Bhopal. Vice Chancellor, Manipal University, Manipal Army College of Medical Sciences, Delhi Cantt M S Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore CMC, Vellore Christian Medical College, Ludhiana. Bharti Vidyapeeth Medical College, Pune. UCMS, Delhi KEM, Mumbai AIMSR, Bathinda Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Pune UCMS, Delhi PS Medical college, Karamsad SGRRIM&HS, Dehradun SGRD Institute of Medical Sciences, Amritsar KGMC, Lucknow Christian Medical College, Vellore. SGRD Institute of Medical Sciences, Amritsar All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. GMC, Jammu Government Medical College, Chandigarh. UCMS, Delhi Christian Medical College, Ludhiana. B V U Medical College, Pune Melaka-Manipal Medical College, Manipal KEM, Mumbai PS Medical college, Karamsad Christian Medical College, Ludhiana. PSG-FAIMER, Coimbatore PSG-FAIMER, Coimbatore Gandhi Medical College, Hyderabad Manipal Univ, Manipal Bharti Vidyapeeth Medical College, Pune. : 2:
CMCL-FAIMER Fellows (2006-2015) Class 2006 (completed) S.No
Name
Institute
1
Dubhashi S Pramod
DY Patil Medical College, Pimpri, Pune
2
Gagandeep Kaur
Christian Medical College, Ludhiana
3
Harpreet Kapoor
Christian Medical College, Ludhiana
4
Inderpreet Sohi
Christian Medical College, Ludhiana
5
Kalpana Luthra
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, new Delhi
6
Meenakshi Gupta
SriGuru Ram Das Medical College, Amritsar
7
P V Varughese
Christian Medical College, Ludhiana
8
Roma Isaac
Christian Medical College, Ludhiana
9
Sheena Singh
Christian Medical College, Ludhiana
10
Shubha S Chandrokar
Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College, Pune
11
Shubhada Aphale
Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College, Pune
12
Vijaya V Mysorekar
MS Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore
Class 2007 (completed) S.No
Name
Institute
1
Anshu
Mahatama Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha
2
Aroma Oberoi
Christian Medical College, Ludhiana
3
Chandrika Rao
MS Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore
4
Chetna Desai
B J Medical College & Civil Hospital, Pune
5
Dinesh Badyal
Christian Medical College, Ludhiana
6
Himanshu Pandya
Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad
7
Hem Lata Badyal
Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana
8
Jayanthi Ashok
MS Ramaiah Medical College
9
Madan Lal
Christian Medical College, Ludhiana
10
Meena A Pangarkar
Govt. Medical College, Akola
11
Monika Sharma
Christian Medical College, Ludhiana
12
Mrunal Ketkar
Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College, Pune
13
Sanjay Bedi
MMIMS, Maulana, district Ambala
14
Satish N Mahajan
JN Medical College, Wardha
15
T. Venu
Guntur Medical College, Guntur : 3:
CMCL-FAIMER Fellows (2006-2015) Class 2008 (completed) S.No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Name AM Ciraj Anurag Chaudhary Bharathi Subramaniam Bharti Uppal Kalyan Goswami Maya Arun Jamkar Navneet Kaur Praveen R Singh S Sitalakshmi Sattar M Bhatti Sheikh Sajjad Ahmed Sukhlecha Anupam Suman Gadicherla Suman P Singh
Institute Manipal Medical College, Manipal Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana SIMIMS, Gangtok Christian Medical College, Ludhiana MGIMS, Wardha B J Medical College, Pune University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi Parmukhswami Medical College, Karamsad St John Medical College, Bangalore Christian Medical College, Ludhiana Shere Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar MSS Medical College, Jamnagar M S Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore Parmukhswami Medical College, Karamsad
Class 2009 (completed) S.No
Name
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Alka Rawekar Amrita Mishra Biplab Jamatia Deepak Singla Ilesh Kotecha James Gonsalves Jasleen Narula Jayant Vagha Jayshree Phurailatpam Jiashree Ganjiwale Krishna M Surapaneni Mala Sethi Muna Jahan Neelkamal Kapoor Omna Chawla Rakesh Mittal Ranabir Pal Srikesavan Sabapathy Suchitra Deolalikar
Institute Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Wardha Mahatma Gandhi Ayurvedic College, Sawangi Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi Maharaja Agarsen Hospital, New Delhi Government Medical College, Bhavnagar Melaka-Manipal Medical college, Malaysia Christian Medical College, Ludhiana JNMC Sawangi Meghe, Wardha Regional institute of medical sciences, Imphal, Manipur Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha University,Chennai Govt. Medical College,Chandigarh Begum Khaleda Zia Medical College,Dhaka,Bangladesh Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal Gian Sagar Medical College, Banur, District Patiala Pt BD Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Gangtok, Sikkim Shree GM Physiotherapy College, Godhra, Gujarat Christian Medical College, Ludhiana : 4:
CMCL-FAIMER Fellows (2006-2015) Class 2010 (completed) S.No
Name
Institute
1
Anil Kapoor
Peoples College of Medical Sciences, Bhopal
2
Atul Goel
Christian Medical College, Ludhiana
3
Babu Raja Maharjan
Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS), Nepal
4
Dinesh Kumar
Government Medical College, Jammu
5
Dipta K Mukhopadhyay
Bankura Sammilani Medical college, Bankura
6
Mohammed A Hassanien
King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
7
Mugdha Potnis-Lele
Maharashtra university of health sciences, Pune
8
Palash Das
Midnapore Medical College, Midnapore
9
P V Vijayaraghavan
Sri Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai
10
Preeti Bajaj
Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana
11
Punita Salwan
SGRD Institute of Medical Sciences, Amritsar
12
Ramesh Kumar Narula
Rohilkhand medical college, Bareilly
13
Samuel George Hansdak
Christian Medical College, Vellore
14
Sanam Anwar
Oman Medical college, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
15
Sarabmeet Singh Lehl
Government Medical College, Chandigarh
16
Shyamala Hande
Melaka-Manipal Medical College, Manipal
17
Sunita Jayant vagha
Jawaharlal Nehru Medical college, Wardha
18
Tamkin Khan
JNMC, AMU,Aligarh
Class 2011 (completed) S.No
Name
1
Adinegara Bin Lutfi Abas
Melaka Manipal Medical College, Malaysia
2
Ankur Joshi
Peoples College of Medical Sciences, Bhopal.
3
Deepa Bhat
JSS medical college, Mysore
4
Jyoti Nath Modi
People's College of Medical Sciences, Bhopal
5
Nandita Chattopadhyay
RKMV Institute of Medical sciences, Kolkata
6
Neelam A Toppo
NSCB Medical College, Jabalpur
7
Pankaj Bhardwaj
AIIMS, Jodhpur
8
Rajoo Singh Chhina
Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana
9
Richa Ghay Thaman
SGRD Institute of Medical Sciences, Amritsar, Punjab
10
Roopinder Kaur Mangat
Genesis Institute of Dental Sciences, Ferozepur, Punjab
Institute
Contd.......
: 5:
CMCL-FAIMER Fellows (2006-2015) S.No
Name
11
Santosh Ramratan Pande
Dr. PDM Medical college, Amaravati, India
12
Satendra Singh
University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS), Delhi
13
Selvam Ramachandran
Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Gangtok, Sikkim
14
Sheila Das
Christian Medical College , Ludhiana
15
Sushma Santosh Pande
Dr. PDM Medical college, Amaravati, India.
16
Suvarna Shyam Ganvir
College of Physiotherapy, Ahmednagar
17
Uma Tekur
Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi
18
Vivek V. Harkare
NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur
19
Yeshwanth Rao
KMC-International Center, Manipal
Institute
Class 2012 (completed) S.No
Name
Institute
1
Anumeha Bhagat
Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh
2
Dilara Kamaldeen
Sri Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai
3
M. Salman Shah
JN Medical College, AMU, Aligarh
4
Madhuri Chandra
Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal
5
Madhuri Kanitkar
Army Medical Corps, Delhi
6
Manasee Panda
SCB Medical College, Cuttack
7
Neerja Sood
Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi.
8
Preeti P Yadav
GMC Surat, Gujarat
9
Puja Dulloo
Oman Medical College, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
10
Sabyasachi Das
North Bengal Medical College, Siliguri, Darjeeling
11
Sandip Kudesia
SGRR Institute of Medical Sciences, Dehradun
12
Shaveta Kundra
Christian Medical College , Ludhiana
13
Soumendra Sahoo
Melaka Manipal Medical College, Malaysia
14
Tripti K Srivastava
JN Medical College, Sawangi , Wardha
15
Uma Gupta
Era's Medical College & Hospital, Lucknow, UP
16
Vasudha Kulkarni
DR. B. R. Ambedkar Medical College, Bengaluru
: 6:
CMCL-FAIMER Fellows (2006-2015) Class 2013 (completed) S.No
Name
Institute
1
Anu Sharma
Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana
2
Jyotsna Rimal
B P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal
3
Laxminarayan Karanth
Melaka Manipal Medical College, Malaysia
4
Parmod Goyal
AIMSR, Bathinda
5
Punam Verma
HIMS, Jolly Grant, Dehradun
6
Rakesh Datta
Army College of Medical Sciences, Delhi.
7
Rakesh Kumar Dixit
King George's Medical University, Lucknow
8
Sandeep Dogra
Govt Medical College, Jammu
9
Sandeep Kaur
AIMSR, Bathinda
10
Shaila Bhatt
Melaka Manipal Medical College, Malaysia
11
Shivani Jaswal
Govt Medical College, Chandigarh
12
Subhramoy Chaudhury
North Bengal Medical College, Darjeeling
13
Veena Ajay
JJM Medical College, Davangere, Karnataka
14
Vimala Thomas
Gandhi Medical College, Hyderabad
Class 2014 (on going) S.No
Name
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Clarence J. Samuel Gita Negi Gokul Jaywant Jorwekar Hetal Bhargav Pandya Krithica Srinivasan Manjinder Kaur Mohit Kumar Joshi Mullai Dhinakaran Neeti Nilima D Shah Peter Prasanth Kumar Ruchi Kalra Sabita Mohapatra Simerjit Singh Tapasya Karemore Vijay Pratap Singh
Institute Christian Medical College, Ludhiana HIHT University, Jolly Grant, Dehradun, Uttarakhand Rural Medical College, Loni S.B.K.S. Medical Institute, Waghodia, Vadodara Manipal University, Manipal. Geetanjali Medical College and Hospital, Udaipur University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi College of Physiotherapy, CMC, Ludhiana AIIMS, Jodhpur Government Medical College, Surat Pondicherry institute of medical sciences, Pondicherry People's College of Medical Sciences, Bhopal V.S.S. Medical College, Burla, Sambalpur, Odisha Rural Medical College, Loni VSPM's Dental College and Research Centre, Nagpur Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Gangtok. : 7:
CMCL-FAIMER Fellows (2006-2015) Class 2015 (on going) S.No
Name
Institute
1
Abhijit Datta
Govt Medical College, Agartala
2
Amir Maroof Khan
University College Of Medical Sciences, Delhi
3
Bharati Mehta
AIIMS, Jodhpur
4
Gagan Bajaj
Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore
5
Hem Rimal
Nobel Medical College, Birat Nagar, Nepal
6
Hironmoy Roy
North Bengal Medical College, Darjeeling
7
Juhi Kalra
Himalayan Institue of Medical Sciences, Dehradun
8
Kavita Bhatnagar
DY Patil Medical College, Pune
9
Purnima Barua
Jorhat Medical College, Jorhat
10
Sanjoy Das
Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Dehradun
11
Shuchi Consul
Mayo Institute of Medical Sciences, Barabanki, UP
12
Sukhinder Baidwan
Gian Sagar Medical College, Banur, Punjab
13
Sumanth K Nagraj
Melaka Manipal Medical College, Malaysia
14
Swapnil Paralikar
GMERS Gotri Medical College, Vadodara
15
Upreet Dhaliwal
UCMS, Delhi
16
Vanita Lal
AIIMS, Jodhpur
CMCL-FAIMER Fellows - Grand Achievements • 6 Fellows done/doing MHPE • 3 Fellows also selected as Philadelphia fellows • Out of a total of 10 MCI Nodal centres 4 Convenors and 4 co-convenors are CMCL fellows • Many are MEU coordinators • 2 Books on medical education • 2 National awards in medical education
: 8:
ANIL KAPOOR CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2010 Professor of Medicine People's College of Medical Sciences & Research Centre Bhopal (M.P.) 462037, INDIA.
A dream come true! I don't run away from hard-work, but I do believe in destiny!
And the main mantra is 'Lagey raho FAIMER fellow!'
In 2009, one Sunday, I read that Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal was organizing an in-house workshop on MET with faculty from CMCLFAIMER Regional Institute. I met my Dean and showed interest in attending it. Thanks to his efforts, three of our faculty members were permitted to attend the same (Today all three are FAIMER Fellows!) It was my first contact with our esteemed mentors- Dr Tejinder Singh, Dr Dinesh, Dr Jugesh and Dr Gagan. I got fascinated by the manner they conducted the sessions! It was a memorable experience of 'guide by the side'!
Changes & Achievements: I have experienced the practical utility of different styles of conflict management. I have learned to practice 'reflections' at conscious level and now I try to sensitize others too. I pursued two modules of the Distance Learning Course This was an additional opportunity to interact and get feedback from respected Dr Janet and other experts. I motivated a few faculty to pursue FAIMER fellowship. Motivating my dear wife Anju was a BIG challenge for me! Thanks to the skills learned at FAIMER (Change management and Conflict management) and my persistent persuasion, today she is pursuing her Fellowship at GSMCFAIMER. It has strengthened our skills to provide and accept constructive criticism with open mind.
During fellowship, learning around the educational projects… Unique to the Fellowship are the actual practices of adult learning principles, respect for all (nobody is junior or senior!), learning by doing – experiential learning, use of information and technology, making learning fun, bringing various health professionals under one umbrella and most importantly a plethora of mentors and role models! I learned the intricacies of how to plan, design, refine, edit and conduct research activities via the 'changes' made to our projects. This experience taught me 'any change is painful to start with, but it's for betterment by the end!' I learn the skills of working effectively as a team in collaborate and contextual learning, networking, mentoring and…'One size does NOT fit all!' 'So what?' 'Help is just a click away!' 'Yeh dil mange MORE!'
From our Institute to MCI Regional Centre, and Inter-professional education:
I am presently an active member of our MEU, Research Advisory Committee, Post Graduate Curriculum Development & Implementation Committee (PGCDIC), Editorial Board – 'People's Journal of Scientific Research' and Coordinator for 'Institutional Research Group'. : 9:
I participated as facilitator in the “Workshop on MET” organized by CMCL-FAIMER Regional Institute and North Bengal Medical College, Siliguri (and a bonus visit to Darjeeling) in 2013. I got another opportunity to participate with dear Dr TS as facilitator in the “Workshop on Bedside st Te a c h i n g ” a t 1 N a t i o n a l Conference on Pediatrics Education (NCPE-2013) at Mangalore. I facilitated a session on Poster presentation at NCHPE-2012.
In 2010, we were preparing to start postgraduate courses and I was nominated as the coordinator for PGCDIC. It helped me to work as a team and organize workshops in various departments for developing documents for – Statement of competencies, Curriculum, Syllabus, Training
Now my presentations are more interactive using think-pair-share, brainstorming, seeking opinion, case discussions and role-plays The road ahead…miles to go! I still find myself deficient in time management and publications. Now my focus is to improve these skills, to continue making efforts for faculty-development and conduct and promote research and publications in medical education.
programme and Log-book. We have also designed and implemented 'PG Orientation programme'. I have been participating in conducting Faculty Development Programs “Basic Course Workshop in MET” and as facilitator not only at our institute, but also at Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal and our MCI Regional Centre, Dept. of Medical Education Technology, SAIMS, Indore. Appreciation by our Convenor, Dr B o s e , f u r t h e r b o o s t e d my confidence!
I am highly grateful to all our learned mentors (faculty) and comentors (fellows) who have guided and supported me; I salute them for making my dream come true!
We conducted an in-house workshop on “Research Methodology & Scientific Writing” for faculty in 2013 and a 'Basic Course Workshop in Health Professions Education' for faculty at People's College of Dental Sciences & Research Centre in 2014. This helped me to improve bonding with the dental faculty and in looking forward to more inter-professional educational activities. : 10 :
ANSHU CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2007 FAIMER Fellow, Philadelphia, 2009 IFME Fellow 2012 Professor, Department of Pathology, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, Wardha, Maharashtra, INDIA.
Moving from strength to strength : my faimer story The first change came as a result of the online learning sessions. Online learning came naturally to me. I spent long hours reading and understanding the nuances of medical education. Thinking back, what facilitated this group process was a conducive learning environment created by Dr Tejinder Singh and his team. There was encouragement, and simultaneously there was monitoring of learning. Dr Tejinder once described it as a delicate process of knowing when to tighten and when to loosen a kite's string so that it could fly at its optimum capacity- and that is a metaphor I love.
GSMC and PSG FAIMER regional institutes and for the advanced course conducted by MUHS. It has led to another improvement- the honing of my facilitation skills. I started from merely replicating sessions which others had conducted using their material, and soon grew dissatisfied with what I was doing. It took a few bad sessions to realize that I would not be comfortable unless I was thorough in the subject and until I designed the sessions my way. For this, I need to thank Drs Tejinder Singh, Thomas Chacko and Avinash Supe, who gave me the freedom to do my own thing and stood by me when I faltered. Bill Burdick gave me valuable feedback on how to slow down my speech, how to respond effectively to participants and how to control an audience. It took advice from many people and several debriefing sessions to see my improvement. Besides the FRI Directors, Janet Grant, Debby Diserens, Rashmi Vyas, Payal Bansal, Chetna Desai, Henal Shah- have all shaped me as a person.
The 2007 batch of innovative CMCL-FAIMER Fellows gelled rather well. We were lucky to have on-site faculty who encouraged us to thinkespecially Stewart Mennin- who altered our concepts and concept maps completely through his unique style. Even today, you can find most of us very involved in different facets of medical education, be it faculty development, online learning, simulation, publication, ethics or organization. We had Chetna Desai, Dinesh Badyal, Mrunal Ketkar, Himanshu Pandya, Sanjay Bedi, Venugopala Rao Tanneru, Monika Sharma, Hem Lata Badyal, Chandrika Rao, Jayanthi and several others who are deeply involved in medical education. We continue to be connected and the bond that the Fellows share led to collaborations at several levels. After I finished my Fellowship, I was invited to be faculty, not just at CMCL, but also at
: 11 :
I realized what one meant by the power of networking during NCHPE 2014. Throughout this seven year journey, I had connected on a personal level with so many people, and I hadn't even recognized the potential of this network. What could have been an impossible task turned easy when all my mentors and friends supported me in this endeavour.
International Fellowship in Medical Education (IFME) which allowed me to pursue a Masters in Health Professions Education at Maastricht University. In 2014, I completed my MHPE with distinction- and this has been one of the high points in this journey. Being at Philadelphia and Maastricht gave me international exposure and interactions with my peers from around the world gave me a more global outlook towards education.
In 2012, another big responsibility was thrust on my shoulders. I was chosen to be Organizing Secretary of the National Conference on Health Professions Education (NCHPE) to be held at Sevagram in 2014. Delegation of responsibility was never one of my strengths. Being able to get a cohesive team together turned this conference into a success.
At the graduation ceremony after being awarded MHPE at Maastricht University
I was invited to speak or conduct faculty development sessions at many institutes. Rashmi, Payal, Rita Sood, Thomas Chacko and Nirmala Rege gave me opportunities to participate in the national conferences they organized. Several publications and book chapters emerged as a result of our collaborations. One of the most satisfying outcomes was a book on “Principles of Assessment in Medical Education” that I edited with Dr. Tejinder Singh in 2012. It took several skills (including time management) to come up with something we were both happy with. I have to thank Dr Tejinder for this opportunity and also for giving me the freedom to speak my mind when I thought something needed to change. I was also invited by Janet Grant's team to collaborate on writing three distance learning modules for their MHPE course.
They say that if you have the inclination, you will find the time. I found my calling in medical education thanks to CMCL-FAIMER. I learnt to harness my strengths- writing, learning, organization, networking, creativity and public speaking- and use them to their optimum. I learnt what my weaknesses were and worked towards overcoming them. It has been worth the effort and time I have expended on it. I have to thank all my mentors and colleagues who have been a part of this roller coaster ride. You all have made this journey memorable.
Along the way, I did FAIMER Fellowship at the FAIMER Institute in Philadelphia in 2009, after which I was invited as Global Faculty there for two years. In 2012, I was also awarded an : 12 :
ANU SHARMA CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2013 Professor of Anatomy, Dayanand Medical College & Hospital Ludhiana-141001 Punjab, INDIA
FAIMER–Milestone for a medical educationist We find that after years of struggle, we do not take a trip; a trip takes us. That trip can certainly be a studied and practiced approach, but most of the times it is an inadvertent mini-adventure. This holds true for my journey through FAIMER. I've been inspired by FAIMERIANS with the great experience that I've had the chance to observe while attending medical education related workshops at premier institutes like CMC and DMC, Ludhiana, Punjab (India). Continuing education is a blessing that life gives us, if we are open to the lessons. That feeling made me take an additional personal challenge. The challenge was to be a FAIMERIAN, and making a difference with my bit in medical education. I hung out for hours Dr. T. Singh, Dr. Dinesh, Dr. Daljit Singh, Dr. Raju Singh- listening to their stories as they shared their challenges and excitement. Each one of them left an impression on me that helped feed my experience and excitement for medical education.
may leverage in distributing learning content and create a central place for communication for a course, class or program. In spite of knowing these and various other aspects, it required focusing and fine-tuning my intervention for carrying out the project. There came the role of national and international visionaries of FAIMER. Interesting inputs by Bill and Janet- observers from international community of FAIMER in our contact sessions; our mentors Drs. Sheena and Anil; dear colleagues helped me in widening my horizons. Finally the theory of change was icing on the cake. The process of developing my project from planning to implementation to evaluation became a wonderful part of my learning process.
The journey with FAIMER didn't end in the first contact session. It continued online as a collaborative effort in medical education throughout the year. I got eager to nurture and deliver the FAIMER enthusiasm at my workplace. The real journey to the FAIMER Fellowship A slow and steady revolution started taking place required a project plan submission, and that in my teaching process. FAIMER's concept map began with the idea of introducing Facebook as a aligned very closely with the vibrant educational teaching aid for students of anatomy in the first techniques that I had always sought for my students. I saw in FAIMER an ally that I saw in FAIMER an ally that shared the unique vision for shared the unique vision for curriculum curriculum innovation, networking, and virtual mentorship. Working with FAIMER, I became part of the process, innovation, networking and virtual contributing my bit to changing the educational system. mentorship. Working with FAIMER, I became part of the process contributing to my bit to changing the educational system. professional of the MBBS course. Facebook has Ventures like coordinating e-media CME and seen exceptional growth in users in the recent overcoming obstacles in its path added a little years. I found literature flooded with highlights of more satisfaction to the professional life. power and popularity of social media and how it : 13 :
skills and in turn learning from each person in the process. As an educationist, I switched over from my autocratic mode of teaching to a role of teacher as facilitator. Not the least, I think of meeting a sea of people every day as database of knowledge and experiences that I may have the opportunity to tap into at will on listserv. The empathy and experiences I gather from each small inspiration, tie me even stronger to true human spirit of FAIMER as an educationist that unites us all. In the end, I would like to quote the journey through FAIMER as “Education is not preparation for life. Education is life itself.”
The 2014 contact session at the CMCL- FAIMER Institute added another facet to education technology in the form of thematic poster presentation. It provided the very skill and guidance for giving more meaning to the poster session. There is a newfound realization of strength and confidence that comes from there. Since then I have been mentoring and helping many others develop their educational
ANUMEHA BHAGAT CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2012 Assistant Professor Department of Physiology Government Medical College & Hospital, Chandigarh, INDIA
My destiny, your will I am a firm believer in two things; one is the will to change and second is destiny. If we have both of these working together in unison then we can achieve almost everything you plan. However if one of them is not working in our favour, then our output may not be of the optimum level. This FAIMER story of mine is a reflection of both extremes.
reworking, the first residential session at CMCL with our mentor faculties and their constructive criticism, the constant grilling in the intersession period with a surprise bouquet each month in which like the blooming flowers our faculty were always inspiring- kept us at our innovative best. The second contact session was even more enriching for me both as a second year FAIMER fellow trying to imbibe the most of it and as a new FAIMER faculty trying to simplify few things for the new entrants, but more so still imbibing what all goes back stage in managing such a perfect show.
From the moment I was selected for the FAIMER fellowship in 2011, I could feel completely swept off my feet in the winds of change. It was a sort of answer to my long felt need to be able to improve my interactions with the students whom I was destined to teach.
The first change that I noticed was in me. Instead of planning how much to cover in a lecture I started planning for tailoring my lecture as per the
The warm welcoming emails on listserv, the sudden discovery that my project needs thorough : 14 :
faculty which made me more confident. On one hand as a second year fellow I was blessed to attend the workshop on leadership management by Janet. On the other hand as FAIMER faculty I was involved in a few sessions in which I learnt the importance of prior meticulous planning for each session and the dynamic group work that we were involved in just prior to each session. So, although each session had a lead presenter yet we all were involved throughout the sessions.
requirement of my class. I was aware that repetitions, pauses, a little bit of fun, timing and group work were all ne cessary components of a lecture. In the first FAIMER residential session I learnt the steps of effective time management and handling interpersonal relationships. The next change was in my students. I could see them thoroughly enjoying my lectures whenever I made it interactive by paying attention to all the components mentioned above. With repetitions and group work the students' retention of the contents of the lecture was enhanced.
As an MCI observer twice for their basic course in medical education I visited a medical college twice. There for the first time I was in a very responsible position since the participants as well as the faculty were looking up to my comments at the end of each session.
The next level of change was amongst my colleagues. Many of my colleagues were interested in knowing the type of project I had undertaken as part of FAIMER fellowship and how did I manage it. One of my colleagues even asked “How did you manage to get selected, the selection process is so tough”. My reply “I had both the will to change and destiny conspired for me”
When I appeared for an interview the change was evident in the nature of questions my interviewer asked me. Apart from the subject, I was asked about my plans of implementing my ideas about teaching of Physiology in my institute. In fact the interviewer also encouraged me to take a lead and try to bring to light some of the ideas that I had.
The change continued in the second residential session. Due to this my stay at CMC-Ludhiana was a bit extended. But each day I was so actively involved that I did not quite realize how time flew by. In this I had a dual responsibility: one as second year fellow and another as one of the FAIMER
So now here I am all set and ready, to spread the lighted torch of medical education. However, A small pause and wait is there on the cards it seems, To let the force of the winds to change and start conspiring for me again.
: 15 :
CHETNA DESAI CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2007 Professor in Pharmacology BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad, INDIA.
My journey with FAIMER began as a chance discovery in the year 2007, of an announcement of the FAIMER Fellowship at CMC, Ludhiana in the Indian Journal of Pharmacology. Then I was at the threshold experiencing “saturation” as they call it with regards to teaching duties and research. I had a peek into the world of medical education technology through the Teacher's Training Course that I had attended at a sister institution. The course gave me an impetus to initiate similar courses at my institution. But I was restless, and in the “Yeh dil maange more” mode! There was a sense of “something missing” in the way we went about “teaching and learning”.
more meaningful outcomes, be it curriculum reforms in pharmacology, or newer teaching and evaluation methods. Amalgamating educational interventions to improve pharmacovigilance practices among health professionals in my institution has been the best and most satisfying outcome of this effort so far, and I hope to take it FAIMER helped me hone my organizational and time management skills. It promotes learning through sharing.
further in future. FAIMER encourages partnerships and collaborations. Our common vision and goal of introducing reforms in postgraduate curriculum in Pharmacology had made me and my Co-Fellow, Dinesh Badyal work towards these reforms through panel discussions, symposia and scholarly articles for pharma-cologists across the
FAIMER came at the time when I was looking for newer vistas, vision and opportunities to upgrade my philosophy of medical education. Ever since I joined the FAIMER community, my perspective of my role as a teacher and my professional role, has undergone a sea change. A network of professional and personal friends across states and countries, new horizons, a vision beyond conventional teaching and a strong inner urge to share all learnt with my peers and students became a norm rather than an exception. I honed my skills in newer teaching methods, mentoring, scientific writing and educational research. As faculty of the CMCL FRI and GSMC FRI and the MCI Advance Course at Nodal Centre at NHL Municipal Medical College, I am provided the opportunity to share this learning with health professional educators across the country.
country on suitable platforms like the Indian Pharmacological Society and the International Union of Pharmacology. As Executive Editor and
I learned to amalgamate my specialty (Pharmacology) and medical education, towards : 16 :
later the Chief Editor of the Journal, I have been encouraging publications in pharmacology education.
forward to infusing this energy in my postgraduates and peers.The time and conflict management, stakeholder matrix et al have helped me manage variegated professional roles with ease. A journey that began with an announcement in the Indian Journal of Pharmacology to serving as the Chief Editor of this journal, life has come to a full circle. I look forward to many more meaningful milestones.
FAIMER helped me hone my organizational and time management skills. It promotes learning through sharing. I have been training young researchers in scientific communication and the finer nuances of scientific writing. Students find learning pharmacology to be an arduous task. The aura of FAIMER can be disconcerting to some, but for those who have gone through the rigors of the fellowship and enjoyed the learning, it's a wholesome experience.
I realize that all experience laments and laurels and each one struggles to make a change- some are successful, others wiser, but none defeated. FAIMER reinforces this strength and confidence. Look forward, be the change you want the world to be and endure till you succeed. Thanks FAIMER and the FAIMER family! Proud to be a part of it!
Nearly a decade later, after few humble achievements like pioneering the computer based MCQ system in our institution (for others to emulate), to coordinating exams, to training teachers in MET and scientific writing, to guiding peers, the journey has just begun.Today, I look
: 17 :
DINESH BADYAL CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2007 FAIMER PHILADELPHIA FELLOW 2009 IFME FELLOW 2014 Program Co-Director, CMCL FRI, Co-Convenor, MCI Nodal Centre Professor and Head, Department of Pharmacology Professor of Medical Education, Department of Medical Education Christian Medical College, Ludhiana Punjab, INDIA.
A unique innovative platform : an opportunity to serve student & teacher community country as per new government initiatives, prompted me to go for higher education. Subsequently I got selected for IFME and got enrolled in MHPE with UK Keel University. I wrote module for the MHPE in Open University, UK.
I have been associated with the CMCL-FAIMER Regional Institute (CMCL-FRI) right from its inception as organiser in 2006 and then as a CMCL-FRI 2007 Fellow. Looking at the tireless efforts of my Mentor, Dr. Tejinder Singh to improve medical education in the country has been one of the greatest motivational factor for my involvement in the FRI. The small effort started at that time has now turned into a FORCE to reckon with i.e. the number of fellows in India.
One of the very interesting aspects of my CMCLFAIMER training is extension of my project which was started in 2007. I did my project on “Implementation of Computer Simulation Models (CSM) as Replacement of Animal Experiments in Teaching Undergraduate Pharmacology.” As all Fellows do, I worked on my project thinking of it as a one-year assignment to go along with the fellowship. I was told to develop intermediate and long-term outcomes at that time. I was a bit confused and worried about how I could make a big difference with my project. However, words of faculty members about how the project will benefit the community had a big impact on me.
My training during fellowship; mentorship by mentors notably Drs. T S, Avinash Supe, Vivek Saoji, Debby, Stewart, Janet, Bill and by conducting sessions in the FRIs paved my way to do FAIMER Fellowship at FAIMER, Philadelphia, USA from 2009-11. The wonderful experience of interaction with world leaders in medical education had lasting impressions on me and further strengthened my resolve to contribute to medical education in the country. In next few In the process, I wrote my first book, “Practical years there was a host of activities in medical Manual of Pharmacology”, published by Jaypee education as Brothers. This was one of the Medical Council of A smaller relevant beginning can lead to outcomes of my project. I then bigger required impact. In my case, dreaming India (MCI) started p re s e nte d a p a p e r o n t h e BIG and drawing a big CANVAS as suggested with basic course expanded project at the National by my mentors has really seen light of the day. and our institute University of Singapore, Singapore, was one of the MCI in 2009. I published the extended Regional Centres. My FAIMER training was a gift at project as full paper, “Computer simulation that time to take up the role as faculty in Regional models are implementable as replacements for Centre. My strong desire and appropriate need at animal experiments,” in the international journal that point in the context of development of health ATLA (Alternatives to Lab Animals), indexed in professional's education in my institute and index medicus. The paper was highly appreciated and I still keep getting requests from around the : 18 :
for recognition of substantial cont ribution to Medical Education and Technology in India.
world for PDF copies. Recently (2014) ATLA invited me to write a review on alternatives.
The MCI amendment in MBBS curriculum (2013) and University Grants Commission's letters (UGC2011 & 2014) asked all colleges to stop using animals in teaching of UG & PG students and to use only alternatives such as simulation labs.
Subsequently, a lot happened in editorial area and pharmacology front indirectly inspired by FAIMER related activities. I was elected as the Editor of The Clinical Researcher, the official journal of the Clinical Research Board. I conducted a workshop on writing scientific papers at the National Conference on H e a l t h P ro fe s s i o n a l s ' Education at Pune (2010). I was invited as a guest speaker at an international conference by the University of Hong Kong.
I propose to develop relevant, cost-effective simulations based on human body rather than animals as ultimately these medical students are doing these experiments to understand drug action on humans. This I feel is the most satisfying and creative idea of my journey in this project. In the meantime, I got more opportunities of training by FAIMER and MCI for faculty development, curriculum planning and implementation at New Delhi, Thailand, USA, Nepal and Brazil. Our MCI Regional centre got elevated to Nodal centre and we are involved in designing MCI Advance course. I was involved in in-house and outreach programs for training more than 1000 faculty from various medical schools of India and abroad.
I conducted MCI sponsored CME program (2010), “Alternatives to Animals in Medical Education”. This was another intermediate outcome of my project. In 2012, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), India invited me to conduct one of the four training programs in four corners of India. In 2014 they again invited and we did this program in three states.
Seven years after my project, the external examiner who came to our institute said “this is one department in India which in true sense has replaced animal use”. The person is Chief-editor of journal of National Pharmacology society, hence this statement means a lot to us.
In 2012, I conducted session on alternatives at the Annual National conference of Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India (APPI). In these simulation training programs we have trained approximately 1000 faculties till now. I was awarded ML Gupta Award by APPI for the year 2012 in Medical Education and Technology
I thank all medical educationists, FAIMER, in particular FAIMER Fellows, CMCL-FRI, MCI and my mentors for their constant support & encouragement. A special thanks to my Wife and Daughter as FAIMER is almost a part of family for them.
: 19 :
GAGANDEEP KWATRA CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2006 Professor, Dept. of Pharmacology Professor of Medical Education Department of Medical Education Christian Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab INDIA. My FAIMER story started ten years ago, when Dr. Tejinder Singh encouraged me to apply for the FAIMER Fellowship programme at CMCL. I was fortunate to get selected and although I did not realize it then, I had embarked on a life long journey of learning through sharing. I had applied for the Fellowship, hoping to make Pharmacology learning more interesting for students, through my small project. During one of the sessions, as I drew my concept map, with William Burdick guiding me, I realized that every “small” project has the potential to make an impact and that every individual has the potential to make an impact, howsoever small.
was inducted as faculty at CMCL Regional Institute. I took the next step, albeit hesitantly. But senior faculty continue to guide, and give feedback, and the learning cycle continues. I was honoured when FAIMER invited me to be the Global faculty advisor at Philadelphia. I continue to be part of the medical education team at CMC: conducting workshops for our faculty and at other medical schools. As I reflect back on the years gone by, FAIMER has changed not only the way I teach, but also how I handle my professional duties. My FAIMER project got completed, but the learning continues. And I hope to make my contribution, in whatever way possible, towards advancing the Health professionals education.
The two years of the Fellowship was an enriching experience, with learning taking place through the online sessions. The journey continued as I
: 20 :
HIMANSHU PANDYA CMCL-FAIMER 2007 Convene, MCI Regional Centre Professor and Head, Department of Medical Education Pramukhswami Medical College Karamsad, Gujarat, INDIA.
Lessons in leadership – My FAIMER story I was born at Anand, the milk capital of India, and was exposed to family environment where children were motivated to pursue their academic goals and excel at co-curricular activities. I inherited love for cricket from my father and gathered mementoes playing for my school and college in Ahmedabad, where my academic foundations were also laid. I learnt my early lessons in leadership when I became captain of medical college cricket eleven. I started my professional career at Karamsad, the hometown of Sardar Patel. During my tenure at Pramukhswami Medical College, I developed vast experience in clinical medicine and teaching. I was privileged to handle various additional responsibilities over the years which gave me practical experience in leadership and management.
As a clinician teacher, I have always attempted to b r i n g a fa i r a m o u n t e n t h u s i a s m a n d conscientiousness to the job. I have often wondered about and attempted to optimize learning and teaching opportunities in daily practice in my own ways. My own experiences as a student of medicine have had a profound effect on my approach to teaching in which I have consciously avoided teaching the way I was taught by some of my teachers.
It was therefore a great privilege to be part of FAIMER's fellowship program at CMCL-FAIMER Regional Institute in 2007 which initiated my exciting journey into discipline of medical education. Curriculum innovation project on PBL provided me an ideal platform to develop skills in change management and educational leadership. I have been a member of local rotary club and held After my fellowship, I continued to develop my various leadership positions at local rotary club knowledge base in the field of medical education and subsequently at rotary district. It was here that by participating in workshops and conferences I honed my leadership and networking skills and devoted to health profession education. I was was introduced to adult s e l e c t e d fo r learning through Rotary's I am therefore indebted to my mentors international program e xc e l l e n t l e a d e r s h i p in leadership for and friends in FAIMER for giving training seminars. I also change in health purpose and direction to my life as learnt various tools of profession education medical educator. project management and at Karolinska Institutet applied them in carrying at Stockholm in 2010. out some humanitarian projects. As the chairman Participation in this program gave me deeper of ambassadorial scholarship sub committee of understanding of education leadership. rotary district for three years, I mentored and I have been fortunate to be working in an advised about half a dozen outbound scholars. I institution which supports faculty development have been using number of these leadership and educational innovations. Over the last decade, lessons in my present role as convener of MCI I have had the unique opportunity to be part of the regional centre for faculty development at my process of organizational transformation through college. : 21 :
performers among regional centres in the country. It was possible because of skills of persuasion I learnt from both Rotary and FAIMER. In February 2014, based on audit of performance of this regional center, MCI recognized it as Nodal Centre to conduct advanced c urse. My work as mentor of colleges allocated to our center has resulted in many friends in medical teacher community in western India.
a collective exercise of revisiting of the purpose, vision and mission of our institution. My personal involvement in these processes and engagement with senior leadership at our centre has given me deeper insight of leadership. I have realized that there are lessons to be learnt for people in medicine from disciplines like management.
In the recent past, our college has provided a platform for debate among educational leaders and experts from other related disciplines on 'reforms in medical education' and 'teaching learning of professionalism in health profession education'. The networking skills learnt through Rotary and FAIMER enabled me to handle the responsibility of organizing these consultations with distinction. This would not have been possible but for my association with many educational leaders I met through my FAIMER networking.
In December 2010, MCI recognized our college as Regional Centre for faculty development and I was appointed the convenor of the center. The regional centre at our college is at present one of the top
What fellows say....... What changes in your school or community/region have occurred as a direct or indirect result of your FAIMER project? Self-directed learning among students has increased
68%
There is more faculty interest in the quality of teaching
68% 56%
The quality of teaching has improved
56%
There is more faculty interest in research in education There is more INTER-departmental collaboration in education
48%
There is more INTRA-departmental collaboration in education
48% 44%
Student performance has improved 34%
Assessment is more reliable and valid Students demonstrate increased professionalism
32%
Curriculum is better aligned with community health needs
31% 29%
Faculty more knowledgeable in rural healthcare / work in community
24%
Electronic-learning among students has increased
20%
Students more knowledgeable in primary & community healthcare
15%
Results confirm better health results at the population level More faculty teach community health professionals / workers
14%
None of the above – no changes as a result of project
14% 12%
Community service among students has increased 0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
40% of CMCL projects have been institutionalized (incorporated into curriculum, policies and/or procedures), based on responses from April 2008 to April 2014, highest being for Class 2007 (67%)
: 22 :
HEM LATA BADYAL CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2007 Professor, Department of Physiology Dayanand Medical College Ludhiana, Punjab, INDIA.
A saga of learning opportunities The learning never stops if you are involved with FAIMER. There are endless opportunities of learning throughout the course and even after that as a fellow is never taken off listserv.
The CMCL-FAIMER fellowship provides numerous learning opportunities, it is upto an individual how much he/she can imbibe.
The FAIMER fellowship happened to me as my husband was totally involved in this endeavour. He motivated me to apply for this. The journey has been extremely adventurous as I never expected that a training program for teachers can be so innovative and non-threatening. Although you need to keep pace with the online learning as the sessions move quite fast and you cannot afford to miss few days.
fellowship, I feel very comfortable with online learning. After my training, I became active member of the medical education unit (MEU) of the institute and have been contributing as resource faculty in MCI basic course workshops. I am also honoured to be part of CMCL-FAIMER as faculty every year. Dr. Daljit Singh, our Former Principal and FAIMER, Philadelphia Fellow has been a great motivational force for me to get into the medical education activities. He was a great help in preparing all the sessions we used to take in basic workshops in our institute. Another advantage is that our institute has 5 CMCL-FAIMER fellows and all are involved in medical education unit. Working together following Faimer's group dynamics makes it easier to d e ve l o p o n activities related to our medical education unit.
The FAIM ER training helped me in improving my skills in teaching-learning. As a teacher we always assume that we can teach well, however after joining I realised that there is a lot of scope for improvement and looking at the learning from the student's point of view gives a new dimension to look at teaching.
Joining fellows every year at CMCL gives you same feeling which we used to have at our time. The fellowship program has matured a lot over the years in terms of knowledge and technicalities.
I was not very active initially in the online sessions, but later on I started contributing as I became familiar with e-learning. I have been using most of the techniques in my day to day teaching which I learnt during fellowship. I have been judged as the best teacher for a number of years based on a structured feedback by students in our institute.
I am very thankful to all my mentors in CMCLFAIMER for their contribution to make me a better teacher and a human being.
One of the best techniques I learnt was use of interactive ways in the lectures, which I been using very frequently. I was really not good in use of online platform for teaching, but after doing my : 23 :
JAISHREE GANJIWALE CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2009 Assistant Professor, Biostatistics Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad. INDIA.
Around mid 2008, I received a circular from our Dean about the Fellowship applications open at CMCL for year 2009. I was always interested in learning new things, so I expressed my desire to apply for the same to my friends and colleagues. Although people around me were not very clear about what I was venturing into and what might I gain from it, still my in-charge allowed me to go forward for it. My family also supported me whole heartedly.
It was actually my first time travelling alone after marriage. The journey was long and Ludhiana was altogether a new place! I was thrilled and worried at the same time as I was going away from my 3 year old daughter for the first time. My family's support and confidence to manage was very encouraging. I was worried about getting down within the two minutes stoppage of Shatabdi express from Delhi at Ludhiana. But, with many helping hands in the train, I faced no problems. All my anxiety and apprehensions about the place and FAIMER were taken care of when I met the CMCL team at the centre. Then onwards all the days were so enjoyable that I did not even realize I was learning so much from all the interactive and interesting sessions through the day. The innovative methods of bringing people closer to each other (gallery walk – to introduce your colleagues, think-pairshare and many more) were mesmerizing to me. I learnt a lot from the diverse lot of my co-fellows too! Suddenly I had realized that there is SO MUCH to learn in medical education and life! The hospitality, readily available technical support and the wonderful food in CMCL need special mention. The conducive environment provided and the informal way of addressing were all very amazing and beyond expectation for me! After coming back home I kept talking about the FAIMER way of doing things to my friends and colleagues.
I had observed during my teaching that the students used to get disinterested during the lectures seeing the formulae. They tried to learn statistics only for the sake of passing the PSM exams. So I felt need to change the way statistics was being taught to students. I thought the students should learn statistics for its utility in their clinical decision-making rather than passing any exam. It was around the same time that announcement for CMCL fellowship applications were made. The application required me to submit a draft of a project proposal along with my application. Coincidentally I had come across a statistics book by David Friedman where he had explained the statistics concepts in a very interesting and lucid way. So, taking inspiration from it, I prepared my project based on a newer method of teaching statistics to medical students where I planned to minimize the use of formulae during teaching. The proposal was selected by CMCLFAIMER team and I got to become one of the esteemed CMCL-FAIMER fellows.
My FAIMER project was appreciated well and students demonstrated better understanding of statistics in the intervention group. Then the
: 24 :
newer way of teaching statistics was regularized for all statistics teachings.
family, I have learnt and grown a lot. I got an opportunity to become part of a team developing course material for IGNOU. I got to work with many learned people on several medical education related projects. In our institution there are many groups created for various activities and I was invited to be part of the Faculty Development Group that is responsible for developing policies for faculty development in the institution.
I completed my fellowship one year late compared to my batch mates because I was not in a position to attend the second contact program owing to my term pregnancy in January 2010. But I continued to be part of the online discussions and attended the second contact session in 2011. After completing the fellowship I got an opportunity to be a faculty in the MCI's basic course workshop organized at our regional centre under the guidance of Dr Pandya, for the session on 'MCQ and Item analysis'. By now, our institution was already a mini-FAIMER centre with nine fellows trained from different centres. Then our institution got permission from MCI to go ahead with the advance course in medical education. I am part of the team of faculty for this advance course too. I still use the chocolates for random allocation of participants in different groups in my sessions a method I learnt in CMCLFAIMER.
Being in the FAIMER family has always been enjoyable and enriching. The support and guidance that is available from the FAIMER family is unmatched. I am very fortunate to have experienced this and am grateful to my institution and family for the opportunity. I wish congratulate CMCL-FAIMER for such a glorious completion of ten years and best wishes for the journey ahead. May this family grow exponentially in the years to come.
Through the friendships I developed in FAIMER Contribution of fellows to MEU Creation of MEUs by Fellows (N=192) MEU = Medical Education Unit
PROGRAM.. Brazil
SAFRI
INSTITUTE
CMCL
GSMC
PSG 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
% of Total Number of Records
: 25 :
70%
80%
90%
JYOTI NATH MODI CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2011 Co-ordinator, MEU Professor & Head, Obstetrics & Gynaecology People's College of Medical Sciences & Research Centre (PCMS&R) Bhopal, INDIA.
How CMCL-FAIMER touched my life & has stayed with it For the background, my initial exposure to medical education technology was a workshop conducted by Dr DK Srinivas, this got me thinking about 'teaching-learning' (vaguely though). Next came a 3-day workshop in teaching technology at MUHS, Pune with Dr Payal Bansal and team, this got me interested and I wanted to learn more. Our then Dean, Dr GC Dixit, encouraged us to translate our learning into practice this, further fuelled my interest in the field. It was at TLM-HPE conference in 2008 that I first learnt of FAIMER Fellowship from Dr Rita Sood. I thought I could apply. Then came the opportunity to attend a workshop on OSCE by the CMCL team (Dr TS, Dr Jugesh, Dr Dinesh and Dr Gagan) at GMC Bhopal – I now felt certain that I would apply for the Fellowship.
since a curriculum innovation project was a part of the Fellowship. Besides this, I was looking forward to continued interaction with a common-interest group and guidance by the expert faculty. Today, I realize how inadequate it may have been, had I only got what I had expected. I certainly got what I had expected and in addition, far more. The project was a core element of the training and through it I not only imbibed the concept of educational research, I was also exposed to project planning tools, conflict management, leadership skills, resource management, situation analysis, dissemination of results and educational scholarship, just to name a few. The sessions at CMCL not only taught me educational concepts and good teaching learning practices, but also life skills such as the 'two-minute elevator speech'. The ML web sessions were not merely a discussion into the depths of the topic of the month but also training in netiquette, communication, moderation, online teachinglearning activities and leadership skills.
The GSMC-Mumbai applications were open then and I applied got selected and was on top of the world. As luck would have it, I could not join the Fellowship and had to forgo it because of an expected MCI inspection at my institute. I was crest fallen – it was the shattering of my dreams. It was then that Dr TS, like a guardian angel, encouraged me to re-apply. I applied to CMCLFAIMER institute and the rest became history. That was my first experience of the warmth of the mentors at CMCL. My faith in God's plan and destiny was strengthened. What I expected from CMCL-FAIMER Fellowship and what I got:
Add to above training benefits, the feeling of being in 'class' once again. Coming together and interacting with such wonderful people from all over the country and being one with them over the course of Fellowship has created a lasting bond. The faculties have been true role models of mentorship always there to guide, support and enable. Can I ever thank CMCL enough?
My first expectation from the Fellowship was a betterment of my teaching-learning skills. I also expected some training in educational research
I feel that the Fellowship made me into an overall more enabled person and professional. As a human being, I feel more enriched.
: 26 :
What do I intend doing further:
What else did I get?
The rule of life is to pass on. I too wish to be a torchbearer for CMCL-FAIMER and spread the light of my learning at the institute to the people around me. I strive to translate my learning into practice. In my lifetime, I wish to leave the medical
With the completion of my Fellowship, I was included as a faculty advisor for the 2013 session and as faculty for the 2014 session of CMCL FAIMER institute. I was very fortunate that I got an opportunity to join Dr TS and the CMCL team in conducting a couple of workshops; and also could co-author a few publications with him. I feel truly blessed.
education scenario in my institute, and if possible our country, a shade better than what I found it. I look forward to a continued learning with the institute.
My Fellowship training influenced my approach at work. I was inducted into the academic committees of the college and university. In 2013, I was given the charge of our institute's Medical Education Unit (MEU) as the coordinator and also was made the Vice Dean (Academics) of my institute in 2013. I often muse whether I would have ever felt equipped enough to take these positions without the Fellowship. Or even more, would I have been offered these positions if I had not trained in this Fellowship.
The tenth year of the CMCL-FAIMER institute is indeed a mellow moment; and to reflect and think of the lives that it has touched and is continuing to do so. Long live the spirit of FAIMER.
What fellows say..... April 2010 to April 2014 During the past year, how have you been involved in the FAIMER community? 73%
Participation on the listserv by READING postings
70%
Participation on the listserv by CONTRIBUTING postings
67%
Communication with individual FAIMER FELLOWS (not including listserv) 57%
Communication with individual FAIMER FACULTY (not including listserv) 50%
FAIMER Fellow in first or second year of the fellowship 40%
Met with FAIMER Fellow(s) at a professional meeting 27%
FAIMER Regional Institute Faculty Member 20%
Other collaboration(s) within the FAIMER community 13%
DAFFRI participant
13%
FAIMER Regional Institute Director
10%
FAIMER Institute Faculty Member
10%
FAIMER Regional Institute Associate Director or Co-Director
7%
Global Faculty Collaborative research project with FAIMER Fellow(s)
3%
FAIMER Institute Admissions Committee member
3%
FAIMER Regional Institute Council or Committee member
3%
IFME Fellow
3%
None of the above – During the past year, not involved in the FAIMER community
3% 0%
10%
: 27 :
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
JYOTSNA RIMAL CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2013 Associate Professor and Head Oral Medicine & Radiology Department, CODS, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan. NEPAL.
FAIMER JIGSAW – Falling into place In 2009, during one of the tea breaks of the basic teachers' training at my parent institute, a resource faculty was trying to convince one of my senior colleagues to apply for FAIMER. This was the first time I had heard of it. He also said you should have 3 years of working experience to apply. I don't know if my senior colleague was motivated enough to apply, I certainly was. At that time, I just had one year experience in teaching so I had to wait. However, I kept a note in my diary so that I would remember when I was eligible to apply.
appointed the member of 2 editorial boards, namely the Journal of Nepal Dental Association and Health Renaissance. My term was extended for program coordinator BDS phase II. I was nominated as a member of Medical Board and Institutional Review Board (IRB). BDS curriculum was reviewed and MDS curriculum of 3 specialities (Orthodontics, Public Health Dentistry and Oral Medicine & Radiology) was developed under my convenership. I was honoured to have Prof. Shailesh Lele during the curriculum workshop who is the first dentist in the world to do FAIMER fellowship. PBL was incorporated in the curriculum from year 1 to 5 as an impact of my curriculum innovation project in FAIMER. OSCE
In 2012 October, I applied at CMCL-FAIMER regional center and got selected. The curriculum innovation project which I selected also had special place in my professional life. I really used to be bothered about the way our In September 2014, I was able to start the first ever post students were learning. They would not graduate program in Oral Medicine & Radiology in NEPAL. remember their basic science when they reach clinical years. I analyzed the issue and was incorporated in the clinical dental subjects as thought problem based learning (PBL) could be a part of assessment system. one way out. Apart from being connected to I also completed post graduate diploma in Health clinical science in their early years, they would Promotion with special focus on tobacco control also be able to be lifelong learners. under the Public Health Foundation India. I was The first contact session completely changed my granted Nuffic Scholarship to be trained on perception of medical education. I made some Recent Advances in Dental Education and Oral good friends. I realized it's a completely different Public Health at Radboud University, Netherlands world and you can do so much in your workplace. for 5 weeks. My perception to teaching changed Coping with the monthly M L web session with completely there. I have learnt to be facilitator ever-increasing patients in the department, other from a mere information provider to my students. commitments at the institute and with a small In September 2014, I was able to start the first baby was always a challenge. ever post graduate program in Oral Medicine & Radiology in Nepal with 2 PG students as my From the time FAIMER happened, many things pupils. Lately, on 1st November 2014, I received a started falling into its place in my life. I was
: 28 :
am little restless as I have an interview scheduled for my promotion to Additional Professor tomorrow morning (30/11/2014) at 9:00 am. I guess my FAIMER life began as a jigsaw and all the pieces are now falling into places.
letter from the Rector (our academic head) appointing me as the coordinator of Health Professional Education Core Group (HPECG) of our institute and requested me to conduct a teachers training at the earliest. In 3 weeks time, I was able to successfully conduct the training with support from committed members of the core group.
My future plan is to make our HPE Department a dynamic one and apart from conducting regular teachers training program, I plan to conduct continuing professional development programs in the form of journal clubs, guest lectures, advanced teachers training programs, etc. regularly. I will also seek additional training on medical education. I will ensure continuity of the initiated curricular innovation milestones in undergraduate and postgraduate dentistry program and make it a model for our country and beyond. I acknowledge, with profound gratitude and respect, my mentors, trainers, colleagues, family and friends who have played vital roles in all my
While I am trying to wind up the FAIMER story, I
MADHURI KANITKAR CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2012 Deputy Director General Armed Forces Medical Services, Planning and Training Consultant Pediatric Nephrology, INDIA.
My affair with FAIMER I have a confession to make. It all began in the year 2011. Life was moving on, I had been Professor and Head of Pediatrics at one of the most prestigious medical colleges in the country. Life had everything to offer and I should have been a contented happy person. But something was missing. The marriage was getting predictable, routine and may be a bit boring. It needed a zing to spice it up. What do you do in such a situation? You have seen the kids grow, are done with most responsibilities and feel comfortable and settled
and yet..... I needed more. I had first heard of FAIMER from Prof Jamkar, the present Vice Chancellor of MUHS. He had said I need to have a date with FAIMER to realise what I am missing. So in this time of need I decided to seek out FAIMER. A bit of a search and encouragement from another friend Karuna Datta and a date was set up. A few mails later FAIMER accepted my proposal. I was excited for my first date just like a teenager going out for her first dinner. : 29 :
Now began the most beautiful period of my affair. Every morning began with waking up excited to read all the mails and respond with enthusiasm. It had all the thrills of the affair I was looking out for. Sitting up late writing and reading.
think big has become part of my job. I would have been ill equipped to take on this responsibility without the insight provided by my affair with FAIMER. I have encouraged at least three others to take on the same course and they are now involved in the same affair! I am At times the husband was wondering what was going on and able to assist other educational bodies then to my surprise he was proudly telling everyone—Oh she is having an affair and so is very busy! How did this happen? like the National Board of Examinations, FAIMER had taught me the art of conflict management and our two medical and 8 nursing colleges taking the stakeholders along! etc in formulating policies by virtue of my The affair lasted a full two years bringing me newer insights and a meaning to my predictably staid life in medical education. position and do it to my satisfaction It had all the thrills of the affair I was looking out for!! because of my tra ining with FAIMER. I would like to end with the quote from the CP Cavafy's Long Road to Ithaca:
The project I undertook on e-mentoring brought me more satisfaction than I had got in a long time. The three trips to Ludhiana were the best getaways and the cherry on the icing to the whole affair. Along the way I also made so many friends for life. Even now it was my friend Uma who reminded me that I had not written for a long time and my good friend, philosopher and guide FAIMER was eagerly waiting for my letter. How could I resist him now?
”Keep Ithaca always in your mind. Arriving there is what you're destined for. But don't hurry the journey at all. Better if it lasts for years, so you're old by the time you reach the island, wealthy with all you've gained on the way, not expecting Ithaca to make you rich. Ithaca gave you the marvellous journey. Without her you wouldn't have set out.” Let us all continue this journey and our affair with FAIMER without hurrying. it's the journey that is more important.
The affair was solemnised in January 2014 with a marriage certificate, I was now a FAIMER fellow! It was a proud moment for me and a dream come true. It is exactly what I needed. Life carries on but what I got from this affair during a mid-life crises was more than what I had expected. I now work as Deputy Director General Training in my organisation and my experience of the affair is my most valued asset as I try to make a difference to so many young students. I am involved in perspective planning and training of all medical, nursing, dental and paramedical personnel in my organisation. Stimulating both teachers and students to innovate and
: 30 :
MALA BHALLA CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2009 Associate Professor Department of Dermatology Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh, INDIA.
I was an accidental teacher by virtue of being selected as an Assistant Professor of Dermatology in Government Medical College, Chandigarh. I thought I was doing a decent job of teaching the undergraduates in between my clinical and research work and my students had no complaints either. My classmate of many years (I am not specifying how many years...) and friend, Dinesh burst my bubble by insisting that one of the essentials to be a good teacher was to know something about medical education and research, which till then was something that I had never ever thought about. His conviction about FAIMER made an impact and the need to do better at my teaching responsibilities took root.
The ML web sessions fostered a sense of being part of a group of friends and added to our knowledge. The faculty was always quick with their inputs and to get us back on track (especially Dr TS) with the discussion whenever we were in danger of getting side tracked. I was the first one from our institute to do the FAIMER fellowship. But slowly the awareness spread and now there are five of us. Lots of the
The next stumbling block was the curriculum innovation project for the FAIMER fellowship because we had no postgraduate students in the department and we all know how seriously (??) dermatology is taken by the undergraduate students. But where there is a will, there is a wayso I targeted the interns for my project and submitted a project to incorporate formal interactive teaching during the internship period.
other faculty have done the basic MCI workshop training.
The concepts of teamwork, change management and making everyone feel like a part of the change have worked- which is evident by the ever-increasing attendance at the MEU activities.
The FAIMER Fellowship was a wonderful experience. The contact sessions which had theoretically seemed to be the most difficult part were actually the most fun part. The time just flew past due to the bonding and camaraderie between the fellows and even with the faculty. We discovered ourselves to be part of a family away from our families back home.
I was promoted to Associate Professor while doing my fellowship and was made a member of the Medical Education Unit of our college along with the other FAIMER fellows. The MEU of our college has now become pretty active with regular medical education activities. The concepts of teamwork, change management and what Janet taught us about throwing the doors wide open and making everyone feel like a part of the change have worked which is evident by the ever increasing attendance of the MEU activities. It has been a wonderful journey so far and I hope there are many more miles to go.................... the journey of 10 years.
: 31 :
MANASEE PANDA CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2012 Dept. of Community Medicine SCB Medical College Cuttack - 753007. INDIA.
I was at CMC Ludhiana to attend the Basic course workshop in the year 2010. It was a last moment decision as someone was not able to attend, and my name was included in the list. That was the beginning. I never had to look back. The teachers, their teaching, the environment, everything was very impressive. I learnt about the FAIMER Fellowship there, and so I applied for the same the next year. I was selected and attended the first session with lots of apprehension. But then returning every February to Classic Hotel was like home coming.
as a group, the sharing relationship among the members, our mentors made me believe, “Yes, I can”. Apart from the academic part, the most important learning experience for me was the few lines expressed by Dr TS on the last day of our first session. While trying to make us understand the contributions of our near ones and colleagues, without which we would never be able to complete the session and also the fellowship. I was never insensitive to such issues, but that made sense to me and I am going to remember it the whole of my life. I was never told such a sensitive issue in an educational forum. I think that is the spirit of a true mentor.
I was already a teacher for 12 years. I love to teach. But somewhere inside me, there was some dissatisfaction. My surroundings then did not help me. I did not know from where to start. Group works project discussions, evening homework which postponed our shopping plans to meet the deadlines, frustration with myself after realization of the inadequacy within, infact everything helped. Through my curriculum innovative project, I learnt how to plan meticulously at each step. And now I can guide my students in a better way. I also became more computer literate during the fellowship. From the first day onwards our joke with “so what?” became so meaningful, that
I had no idea about e-learning. Without direct contact with teachers I never imagined that teaching-learning was possible. I always knew that I understood best sitting in the class attentively. But then the ML Web discussions changed everything. I was introduced to a different world, unknown to me earlier. So much knowledge in the e-world! Sharing of resources! While responding to questions, I carefully planned answers before posting them. I always remembered words of Dr TS "So many readers are on the listserv. So be careful before posting anything”. Then during my moderation month, we had fun with meticulous planning, exchanges of loads of mails, waiting for the watch to strike 12 midnight to start the thread, maintaining the record of mails.
My vision changed after my first session at CMCL. Subsequently each session helped me to bring about change within me.
sometimes I am frightened to ask that question to myself. Initially I was discouraged, asked myself repeatedly, “Can I do it?” But the FAIMER Family
All these experiences, in turn, helped me to
: 32 :
become a good teacher, both for undergraduate and postgraduate students, to plan my class well ahead of time. Writing reflections every month initially seemed to be a huge task, but I gradually learnt and loved to pen down my reflections. I also learnt that for effective teaching learning activity and assessment in my department, team work is n e c e s s a r y rat h e r t h a n individual one. So I involved my colleagues as well. Another very important aspect I learnt was about h o w to g i ve effe c t i ve feedback. Now I am confident about guiding my students about preparing a good poster.
volunteered to be the coordinator and already organized two Basic course workshops with other faculty members. I was surprised with myself for this bold step of mine, but then I owe everything to my FAIMER Fellowship. My FAIMER fellowship also helped me to understand my topic in a better way. Writing reflections every month initially seemed to be a huge task, but I gradually learnt and loved to pen down my reflections. Addiction to listserv is perhaps going to stay with me throughout my life. Even when I cannot access it for one day, I always have the feeling that I am missing a lot. Each day guides me to some unknown aspect. I am grateful to my teachers at CMCL for providing me this opportunity. Through this process I have become a good human being who has learnt to face the world.
In our MCI Regional center, my FAIMER fellowship helped me as a facilitator in the Basic Course Workshop. Also when I was transferred to my present place of posting, MEU was in a dormant condition. I requested my Dean to revive it and
Fellows -------> Faculty
The proportion of program faculty who were graduates of one of the FAIMER fellowships has increased over time. In 2014, 96 percent of CMCL FRI faculty were Fellows, 85 percent for SAFRI, 81 percent for Brazil, 78 percent for PSG, 74 percent for GSMC, and 38 percent for CMB-CMU : 33 :
MONIKA SHARMA CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2007 Professor, Department of Pediatrics Christian Medical College & Hospital Ludhiana, Punjab, INDIA.
My first response at being asked to submit my FAIMER story was, “this is not for me, I have no success story to tell”. Mine would have probably be the last story to arrive when Dinesh actually send more than one imploring emails to pen down what, I thought, would be worth reading about myself, in the tenth anniversary souvenir. Yes, I would've regretted seeing everyone else but me in the book.
about the hows, the whys, the what if and if nots. I started as a student in medical education. After eight years, I realize I have tripped to the other side of the rope. Learning never stops, nor does teaching. There is always something new to learn and share with like minded interested people around. I have graduated to becoming a resource person in the MCI Nodal Centre as well as the CMCL-FAIMER institute.
It's a little success that my story is down on paper. This is what I consider as CMCL-FAIMER's significant contribution to my life, professionally and otherwise. Thinking of the possibilities and preparing (more important) well for the problems. And, of course, being able to write a short story in a short time.
Besides the guidance I've received in medical education, I attribute my fellowship with teaching me with the skill of thinking positive, managing resources and being thoroughly prepared for the ups and downs. Introduction to the FAIMER program has fuelled my resolve to developing a pediatric subspeciality within my institute. We set up, a one of its kind, Child Development Clinic in CMC in 2007 which has been doing better every year with respect to helping children who look up to us and in research. I have been able to guide several students interested in research in this field and some of them have travelled within India and abroad to present their work.
I did my CMCL FAIMER fellowship barely two years after I joined CMC as a faculty in the department of Pediatric Medicine. It was a time when I felt I was a 'born teacher' and was happy to have landed a job as a doctor-teacher. I applied for the fellowship, assuming it would help me hone my skills in teaching learning methods and was pleasantly surprised at the content, which included a lot of management skills, which are an essential part of being a teacher in a medical college. I carried out a project with a computer based self-learning module and found it very exciting to sit down with the faculty and map out my future plan with the project. Though the plan hasn't really taken shape, it was my introduction to thinking big, thinking
I hope the fellowship continues to do the same with everyone…give them more than what they wanted from this 'training'. With best wishes for everyone.
: 34 :
NEELAM ANUPAMA TOPPO CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2012 Assistant Professor Dept. of Community Medicine NSCB Medical College, Jabalpur, (M.P.), India
My successful journey as FAIMERian!!! It was 2009. I was in Vellore for a Workshop on Epidemiology. I met Dr Hansda, who told me about the FAIMER fellowship. I came back and forgot about it. Then again it came back to me in 2010 as an advertisement in the month of September. That made me to search about it on the internet. When I opened the site and it read four or five times, it motivated me. The webpage was appealing. Only a few days were left for application. I did talk to my boss, Dr Pradeep Kasar, who is the Coordinator of MEU too and got a green signal from him. I started writing my project and completed my application. It was like a hurdle race as just a couple of days were left, and there was a holiday too on the 2nd of October. But I praise God that my application reached CMCL in time.
added a lot in my personality, my vision and my action as medical teacher. Being a FAIMERIAN, I start getting recognition among my professional colleagues and in various national and international platforms. The project work I did in my Institution was shared among all staff of NSCB Medical College, and Senior Professors, who were my teachers too, appreciated my work. One of the professors who was Head of Pathology told me: “In history of this college, this is the first time we are sitting to discuss the quality medical education. Otherwise the discussion points were always administrative issues.” It made me feel more responsible to improve the quality of medical education. In the steps of this successful journey I received the “Best teacher award” on the occasion of Teachers' Day in 2011, in New Delhi. Again this
Then every day I was praying with my husbandputting my desire and petition before God. As I received the mail from Dr TS-I don't have words to express my Joy. It was just bubbling within my heart. It was also challenging throughout the Fellowship, as my mother was suffering from chronic renal failure. Being a doctor I had to take care of her. She left us on 30th January, 2012 and the very next day after her funeral, I left Jabalpur on 1st February to Ludhiana for my second contact session with tears in my eyes. I had to present my poster. Again it was grace of God that I could attend this session. I learned many things to become a model teacher through my teaching and attitude. Dr TS, Dr Dinesh, Rashmi and the whole team of CMCL,
made me humble and put responsibilities toward what I had been trained as FAIMERIAN.
: 35 :
This journey didn't stop here but added again an honor when I received a letter from the Indian association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists that my paper which was published in Indian Dermatology Online Journal was
selected as the best paper published in the year 2013. And I got awarded in December 6th, 2013 during the International Conference of Dermatology in New Delhi. I was recognized by many journals where I am reviewer. I have responsibilities of the Medical Education Unit of NSCB medical College, Jabalpur. Again in the month of November 2014, my paper was selected as best paper in the International Conference of Micronutrients. This is all because of the CMCL – FAIMER fellowship. I still look forward for constant guidance from my teachers of FAIMER.
PANKAJ BHARDWAJ CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2011 Assistant Professor Department of Community Medicine & Family Medicine All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) Jodhpur. INDIA.
FAIMER- an innovation of its own kind!!! I am a born observer. Right from my residency period, I used to observe my teachers, as well as peers very keenly. I tried to emulate some of my teachers, whom I considered as my role models. At the same time I also try to remember those, whose ways of teaching confused me a lot. I used to think that if I ever get a chance to be a medical teacher, the most important thing which I am going to do is to have some training of teaching methodologies.
confusion as well, which raised my inquisitiveness for exploring formal training for medical education. So, one day while filling MCI faculty form, I observed clear mention of FAIMER amongst the faculty development column. I applied for the fellowship and after getting rejected twice, finally got it in 2011. So, it was a beginning of a new journey. I was aware as well as expecting also that it is going to be full of events and it so happened. My train at one of the stations got attacked by group of agitated students, breaking all the window panes,
It was in 2009, when I attended the three day basic workshop on medical education, where I got introduced to so many new methods as The sessions on andragogy with lot of interactions as well as well as techniques used for medical experience sharing amongst participants and facilitators education. But with learning, I got lot of helped me to imbibe better. Reflections and feedback provided an all together different dimensions to the overall experience. : 36 :
damaging compartments, resulting in ten hours delay of arrival to Ludhiana. I missed the beginning of the most important first day sessions. I developed obvious apprehension of losing my orientation to the course, as all other coparticipants were unknown to me and I lost the very first opportunity to develop acquaintances with them too. But each one of them briefed me about the session which I missed in such a live way that it was beyond expectation. So, the first thing I learnt was team building as well So, when I attended different level meetings for framing a curriculum draft for our upcoming School of Public Health at my Institute I could really convince others with this successful example of FAIMER for adopting distance education mode of learning from different International Public Health Schools. Anyway, since then the journey of learning continues through, sharing and caring. Presently I have been entrusted with the responsibilities of member, MEU, Student research ethics sub-committee, Asstt. Controller Examination, and adjunct faculty in National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) center for research in Medical Education at AIIMS Jodhpur.
as peer assisted learning (share & care). As a medical teacher, now I feel more confident as well as competent to apply principles of adult learning. “Change just for the sake of change” should not be the objective, I learnt this from FAIMER. Observable desired outcome is the key of successful intervention as well as innovation. It was only after this training, that I could understand the exact meaning of distance education mode of learning. The kind of selfmotivation of trainees as well as utmost dedication of trainers is required to have a successful distance education model. It really helped me in developing faith and trust on such courses.
: 37 :
PARMOD GOYAL CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2013 Coordinator, Medical Education Unit Professor and Head, Forensic Medicine Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Bathinda, INDIA.
Building a team- the FAIMER way It was 10 p.m. on 4th February 2013, when I got a phone call from Dr Dinesh Badyal that my application has been accepted for FAIMER 2013 course, and I should report at the venue at 8 a.m. on 5th February 2013. It was like a dream come true for me, as I was the first faculty in my Institute to attend the Basic Course Workshop in September 2009. That was the first time when CMC Ludhiana also conducted such a workshop.
We started to conduct small sessions like on curriculum, assessment etc. With this my interest in medical education increased. I started to spend maximum available time on activities related to medical education, despite my engagement in other Institutional activities. Things changed in my professional career due to CMCL FAIMER. I already was Co-ordinator of the MEU of my Institute, but after this I made myself eligible for this post.
But with time I forgot the things I learnt from the workshop and felt the need to revise the course. I reattended the Basic Course workshop after 3 years from 20-22 September 2012. At this time Dr TS suggested that I apply for FAIMER.
We started to organize all other CME/ conferences/ monthly clinical meetings etc also under the aegis of MEU. Of course this increased my work load but I enjoyed it. We really had to work hard to build a team to conduct workshops. Finally once our team was prepared, we conducted the first basic course workshop at our Institute.
I went through the CMCL-FAIMER website and tried to fill the application form. The biggest challenge for me at that time was what topic to choose for my project. I was not familiar with educational projects. I was already teaching autopsy dissections to 2nd Professional MBBS students.
I was also made member secretary of Institutional Ethics committee and even I was instrumental in getting IEC registered with CDSCO. Our management also appreciated my hard work and dedication towards medical education and improvement in the quality of medical education.
My students gave me the idea that the same can be done for first year MBBS students and that it will help in learning of Anatomy. And then there was no turning back. I completed my application and was kept on the waiting list initially. But finally I got selected just one night before the start of the course.
We organized thesis plan workshop for our first year postgraduate students and it is going to be an annual event. Additionally we will start thesis writing workshop for final year students and manuscript writing workshop for faculty.
The terms assessment, curriculum, microteaching- were unfamiliar and difficult for me earlier. But now I started to have a grasp of these topics. The next challenge was to arrange a basic course workshop in my Institute. : 38 :
PREETI BAJAJ CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2010 Professor, Department of Pathology Editor, MVP Journal of Medical Sciences Member, Medical Education Unit Dr. Vasant Rao Pawar Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Nashik, INDIA. Words fall short as I gather my thoughts to pen down the significance of being a FAIMER fellow. I still recollect the day, Friday, the 10th of July, 2009 when I got a mail from Dr. Dinesh Badyal about FAIMER regional fellowships being open for teachers. Till then, I had a vague idea about FAIMER. That year, I made an effort to submit the application for the same. Thanks to the selection committee at CMC, I got nominated as one of the esteemed 20 fellows in 2010.
the workshop organised here. The Basic MET workshops here are indeed a replica of the FAIMER residential sessions held at CMC, Ludhiana but always miss the presence of my mentorsDr.Tejinder Singh, Dr.Dinesh Badyal, Dr.Janet Grant, Dr.Anshu, Dr.Jugesh Chhatwal, Dr.Chetna Desai, Dr. Ciraj, Dr. Sheena and Dr.Gagandeep Kwatra. One of my mentors at CMCL, Dr Payal Bansal, FAIMER Institute 2007 fellow and Convener MCI Regional Centre for faculty development was here to guide us. Thereafter, I along with MEU Co-ordinator have organised MCI Basic workshops regularly in 2013, 2014 and also will be organising one next month in February 2015. The three days of the workshop are all interactive sessions, role plays, and group dynamics and end up with the microteaching presentations by the participants.
In the two years of fellowship, I imbibed the various teaching methodologies, the ways of assessment, feedback, etc. In short, I was trained by my mentors to become a better teacher. Due to unavoidable circumstances; I had to move from Ludhiana to Nashik in Maharashtra. I applied for job as Associate Professor at the Medical College here. The Pathology department was adequately staffed there. But because of FAIMER Fellowship, the Dean asked me to join the college. Little had I known way back in 2009, that this fellowship would help me get a job at an entirely new place. I soon became a member of MEU also. I then realized that till date, there had been no Basic MET workshop in this college. So put my level best to get
I got promoted as Professor of Pathology in August 2013. Soon, I was also nominated as Member Secretary of Institutional Ethics Committee. Due to my interest in research activities and publications, I launched a journal named MVP Journal of Medical Sciences which within a year got indexed in two national databases and is also published online. In October 2013, I co-authored a textbook of Pathology-“Short Textbook in Haematology” for undergraduate and postgraduate students of Pathology. I can still feel the FAIMER magic all around. I know there are miles for me to go but being a FAIMER Fellow has been one of my most satisfying experiences so far. I must say that it is just because of CMCL-FAIMER, I could get all this done. My sincere thanks to Dr Tejinder Singh, Dr Dinesh Badyal and the entire FAIMER family.
: 39 :
PUNAM VERMA CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2013 Professor, Dept. of Physiology, SGRR Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, Dehradun, INDIA.
What Happened The journey of FAIMER started before the contact Presently I am noticed not only at my institution session when we were supposed to submit a but also at other institutions. curriculum innovation project. Thank God! At last Those were really thought provoking sessions for I could submit an appropriate project and felt me and definitely a 'feel good' experience for me relaxed after submission. Then came the first which has continued to be so till date. I wondered contact session. I still can remember the stormy what I had been doing all these years with my life. I cold weather of the first day. The session started became doctor, completed my postgraduation, with innovative way of introduction of each of the and became a teaching faculty in a medical budding 2013 FAIMER Fellows. Throughout, we college. But I was hardly using my abilities and had very interactive sessions and discussions on personal skills in my teaching career. I was going our innovative projects. Honestly speaking, on like a routine teacher- transferring initially with lots of homework on the project and information from texts to students, of course with the deadline of submission compelled me to think explanation. - What is the need of doing this fellowship? Why In two years with FAIMER, I have evolved so much am I doing it? What will I achieve? At this age I as a human being as a professional, and as a can't take so much burden. So many questions teaching faculty. FAIMER has inculcated in me the came to my mind and I was about to quit. Then I qualities of a good saw my dear Fellow friends who were also Life has become more interesting, I feel I am contributing t e a c h e r w h o i s properly to my students, society, the institution interactive with student, feeling the same but where I am working and as well as my family. is able to keep up their were still eager to attention span during complete the task. So I the class, with little timely breaks during teaching got inspired and started my journey again (the session. Practice of regular assessment and timely effect of Hotel Classic). Then time flew and all feedback to/from students help in better adjourned with the big responsibility of learning. Now I have become a facilitator, a better completion of the project, moderation of the researcher, an administrator and have developed topic allotted and taking part in discussion. leadership qualities. meaningful! I have become Throughout the year ML Web discussions happier person as the professional and social continued on very fruitful topics and it was really a interaction with faculties of different colleges great learning experience that I never had before. from various places has taught me a lot and my Reunion session also brought more positivity in confidence level in day to day life and my career completion of the task. has boosted to unexpected levels.
: 40 :
In nutshell, some praiseworthy learning from FAIMER includes Conflict management-ability to resolve or minimize the conflicts not only at work place but also at home; Researcher mind- able to think in analytical terms and able to differentiate between qualitative and quantitative research; Web learning- learn so many web based activities; Social Networkingworking on listserv is very delightful and thought provoking experience; Virtual mentorshipthis helped me in developing a cordial relationship with my students.
Lastly I bow my head in the gratitude of all the faculty of FAIMER for their kind support. Further, I can never forget the contribution of my beloved Fellows of 2013 batch because of whom I am about to complete this wonderful journey.
What next The spirit of learning and improving oneself which FAIMER ignited is continuously burning in my heart and will remain like this! I will try to remain connected with FAIMER by doing postgraduation also. Just like our benevolent Dr TS I would also like to become a dedicated and vigilant identity in the world of medical education.
: 41 :
PUNITA SALWAN CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2010 Professor, Dept. of Anatomy SGRDIMSAR, Amritsar Punjab INDIA.
VENI, VIDI, VECI.....I came, I saw, I conquered Walking down the memory lane, as I sit down to pen my thoughts of FAIMER experience, the oftrepeated words of Caesar come to my mind. I came with loads of excitement and expectation in 2010.....I saw and experienced a whole gamut of activities....I conquered (quenched) my thirst of learning the nuances of medical education....and the process is still on....and will continue lifelong. Nevertheless it might sound grandiose, but these are the foremost thoughts that reflect back with intensity.
amalgamation of varied exposures and experiences. The whole experience was exhilarating. A trueblue hands-on training. Right from understanding the dynamics of a group to managing a conflict, each topic was complemented with novel activities. The listserv is the umbilical cord keeping us connected to our Alma Mater, through thick and thin.
The victory drum was profoundly beaten by the esteemed FAIMER faculty starting with Dr TS, Dr Jugesh and each and every faculty, who put in
We all are familiar with the multitude of activities and discussions during the 2-year Fellowship program. So instead of going into details of that let me share my thoughts about how this program has influenced me. A metamorphosis of my mindset has occurred over this period. New fresh concepts of mentoring and interaction have percolated into the system. Gradually the tenets and principles of various aspects of medical education are seeping into the veins. Clarity of ideas is taking shape with more conviction as we regularly conduct basic workshop at our institute.
their best foot forward and went an extra mile to smoothen out the creases of doubts springing up.
It has opened the portals for not only professional but personal development. Upgradation of computer skills, conducting a session, organising group discussions are the ones to mention a few. A tangible shape is being given to the values and ideology of teaching.
The first week of the contact program was an unforgettable and cherished experience. Gelling with fellows from various parts of India and abroad was the beginning of a life-long association. The Faculty also showed myriad cultures and professional backgrounds. It was an : 42 :
Mater (mother) nurtures us during the 2-year Fellowship program with care, warmth and tenderness providing us with immediate assistance whenever required; buffering us in every possible way. The workshops, conferences and seminar programs that we attend over the years and the basic programs conducted at our institute are the inducers and organisers that propel us to keep differentiating; giving final shape to the organs of assessment, specific learning objectives, teaching instructions, etc.
In short: As a single cell embryo evolves into a cherubic angel over a period of nine months with the help of maternal nutrition, inducers and organisers. The FAIMER Faculty, our esteemed
What fellows say.....
When asked which FAIMER curriculum topic areas have continued to be useful to them during the past year, fellows endorsed the utility of many topics, with the most frequently endorsed including assessment (63%), team building (60%), leadership (57%), and conflict management (53%)
: 43 :
2006 & 2007
9 0 0 2 & 8 200
2010 & 2011
2012 & 2013
pport Su r Ou
Staff
2014
CMCL FAIMER in Outreach Programs
CMCL FAIMER in Outreach Programs
CMCL FAIMER in Outreach Programs
RAJOO SINGH CHHINA CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2012 MEU Coordinator, Dean Academics Professor of Gastroenterology Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana, Punjab, INDIA.
I was awarded FAIMER fellowship in February 2013. When I started I never expected that a training program for faculty can be so interactive. Usually we see these programs lecture based and we listen to those and come back. However, this was an entirely different and novice experience for training teachers. And remember these are not all entry level teachers, there are teachers who have been teaching for years.
speciality conference was greatly appreciated by participants and office bearers of the society. American College of Nutrition has decided to be partners with this association after attending the conference. They were so impressed with the outcome of poster sessions that they have decided to discuss to use it in their next conference too. I was made Honorary member of American Society of Nutrition 2015-16.
Since I am coordinator of MEU at my institute, the fellowship was very useful to me in the context that I could actually see the relevance of training faculty in the innovative and simple teaching methods. I used a number of techniques and methods learnt in fellowship in medical education workshops conducted in my institute. I am proud to keep on record that our institute was one of the first to train almost our entire faculty in MCI basic courses. Our former Principal, Dr. Daljit Singh was himself, FAIMER Fellow from FAIMER institute. He was a great motivator, organiser and a leader to lead us in various activities of medical education.
The FAIMER fellowship is helping me a lot in my other responsibilities also. I am State Technical Advisor to United Nations Industrial Development Organization 'UNIDO' on Biomedical Waste which is a United Nations Body. I was invited as the Guest of Honour by the American Association of Patiala doctors in Aug, 2014. I delivered a talk on “Affordable healthcare in India” in London in Feb, 2013 in the meeting of Royal Society of Medicine, UK. I am also the member of CME committee and invited academic council of the National Academy of Medical Sciences.
I also got trained in MCI coordinator workshop. I have given more than 125 talks and presentations. I have been awarded Fellowship of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (FAMS). Presently I am secretary of Nutrition Society of India. I recently organized the 46th Annual National Conference of Nutrition Society of India in November, 2014 in Ludhiana. In this conference I tried the poster format of FAIMER poster presentation. Dr. Dinesh Badyal helped me in this and was coordinator for the poster sessions. The idea of using thematic poster session in a : 44 :
RAKESH DATTA CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2013 Professor (ENT) Army College of Medical Sciences Delhi Cantt, INDIA.
Reading the email asking us to write about our FAIMER story made me think. Trying to list out tangible things I had achieved was something not easy to come. I really didn't have a list of publications, a milestone in medical education nor an award to boast of following my FAIMER experience. Dejected by the lack of any significant achievement to write about, I ignored the email. However, something struck me. Does change always have to be measured in these terms? CMCL-FAIMER had changed the way I think and work, it had helped me fuel my desire to make an impact and teach the future. I decided to write not on what all I achieved, but what important changes it had brought about in me.
to use reflective practice now, I think reflective practice will further help me develop as a person as I encounter real life situations and learn from them. So a full salute to the “so-what” team for introducing this concept in my life. The second major influence of CMCL-FAIMER was on a desire I always had when teaching undergraduates.I have always felt the teaching community was to blame for the apathy our system generates in an otherwise sensitive person. Clinical communication skills were close Learning and sharing was non-threatening, enjoyable and cooperative. The right amount of pressure made us stay on track. There was “co-operation, not competition” in this learning.
The most important impact of CMCL-FAIMER program on me was a simple two worded question we were taught to ask ourselves - the “so what” question. Dr TS gave these two words a new meaning as we were taught reflective practice. Soon I realized that reflecting and acting is not only a powerful tool for learning and medical education but a powerful method of selfdevelopment. Giving it a formal shape and writing it down was instrumental to develop actionable points on what I had experienced. It soon became a part of me and admittedly, I perhaps began to think this way in day to day matters too. I even tried to teach reflective thinking to my postgraduates at times. I think the so-what and whatnext mindgame is also a fantastic approach to honest introspection, a reality check and pragmatic approach to problem solving. If I were
to my heart and I took upon the challenge to work towards a fix to improve these skills in the undergraduate students. Doing the FAIMER project became the driving force and I began to act on what I always thought as a problem. It was really then that the reality dawned and I began to face real world of educational research. These challenges could be only met by what CMCLFAIMER taught me - the “theory of change”. This theoretical sounding term is full of practical reality and for the first time I could actually apply these concepts and be the agent of change in many situations, not limited to just my project. The beauty actually was in the method, not in any path breaking outcomes. As has been said by someone - “as a child all I wanted to do was to matter, I still do”. CMCL-FAIMER helped me to matter and be : 45 :
encouraged me to prepare a scientifically sound educational research proposal and submit it. I must admit that it was one of the better decisions she has helped me take and my FAIMER story would be incomplete without her.
the agent of change. This confidence will definitely boost my confidence as I face future challenges and thanks to CMCL-FAIMER for that. Another major eye-opening experience was the wonderful atmosphere and work culture of CMCL-FAIMER. I can refer to is as “co-operation, not competition”. This wonderful atmosphere helped me realize how we can develop together and achieve more. From the simplest of group activities to crossing the river and planning and writing a skit, it was teamwork being learnt. It wasn't a sermon or a theory lecture, it was 'learning by doing' all the way and the lesson was teamwork.
To conclude a brief reflection on the impact CMCLFAIMER may have had on me, I must say that this is just the beginning. CMCL-FAIMER has made us think big and out of the box. We may not be able to measure our achievements in concrete terms, but yes, in whatever little I achieve and manage to change, there will be credit always due to the way CMCLFAIMER has shaped me. I cherish this forever connection and feel better prepared for the future and eager to be the instrument of change. I am sure that being a part of the CMCL FAIMER family will always add a spring in my step as I move on to face challenges.
The right amount of pressure made us stay on track. I made some wonderful friends along the way and value the friendship bond created along the path to learning. Yes, teamwork was what pulled us along and acted as a force multiplier. Subsequently, not only have I tried to create situations and circumstances for cooperative learning in my teaching practice but also attempt to do so in the teams I lead. Needless to say, this display of teamwork and cooperation is so evident and inspirational when we see Dr TS, Dr Badyal and their team conduct the workshops with clockwork precision. On a more personal note, I must admit that getting into the FAIMER family was inculcated by none other than my own family! My wife Karuna, a GSMC 2008 Fellow had been to CMCL-FAIMER as a faculty and returned visibly impressed by the enthusiasm and josh of Dr TS and his fabulous team. Knowing my passion for teaching, she : 46 :
RAKESH MITTAL CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2009 Coordinator, Medical Education Unit, Assistant Professor, Pharmacology, PGIMS, Rohtak Associate Editor - Annals of Health & Health Sciences Haryana State Representative - Indian Society for Rational Therapeutics (ISRPT)
We learn by doing… I came to know about FAIMER from my teacher teaching methods (OSPE, OMP etc) improved my who was a FAIMER fellow. As soon as I joined as teaching skill and I did receive a positive feedback faculty after my post graduation, I also got from the students. Seeing my interest and efforts enrolled into FAIMER, so probably I might be the in the field of medical education, I have now been youngest fellow of CMCL-FAIMER. I feel I am very appointed as Coordinator of Medical Education lucky as I stepped into my career of teaching along Unit at my prestigious institute PGIMS, Rohtak. with this fellowship. Joining FAIMER has brought This is an important responsibility where I need to an attitudinal shift in my professional career, as it impart whatever I have built me up as a facilitator, Teaching is only demonstrating that it is possible. learnt and in turn I would rather than a conventional Learning is making it possible for yourself. also benefit by learning teacher who lectured.It from others. I am very gave me insight about the gratef ul to CMCL FAIMER which had helped me in opportunities we can create in the present inculcating such good teaching practices. scenario for making teaching learning activities more fun. It also helped me to understand that things can be learnt from colleagues and at any time. Inculcating innovative and interactive
: 47 :
RICHA GHAY THAMAN CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2011 Professor, Physiology SGRDIMSAR, Amritsar, Punjab, INDIA.
We are the palanquin bearers of our dreams The image and character of any group are reflections of the image and character of its leaders- the people who make all the difference. I am recording my sense of appreciation and sincerest thanks to Dr TS and all leaders and also my fellow colleagues.
this was my FAIMER project as well. The interactions were accepted and appreciated by students. It is always music to ears when my students give me positive feedback- that they
Everyone used to get an opportunity to speak one's mind,
the thoughts were considered and discussed, problems were I still remember that day; I was immensely addressed and solved, and mentoring was an essential part. pleased to see my mail box with the letter of selection for the CMCL-FAIMER fellowship in December 2010. I had done a lot of research to were well taught. But nothing changes overnight. choose a topic and plan my FAIMER project. I was It's always like small drops adding to fill the looking forward to the change. It also gave me pitchers. But when you are thirsty even a few immense satisfaction on this achievement. drops are worthwhile and it will take a lifetime to February 2013 saw me donning the convocation quench the thirst. Having a FAIMER Fellowship up cap with my FAIMER certificate. Receiving the your sleeve has other advantages as well. My certificate from the stalwarts of medical articles based on my project work for the education- Dr TS (as we fondly call him), Dr Dinesh Fellowship program fetched me two publications Badyal, Dr Piyush Gupta and Bill Burdick was and one of the publications was in an American great. My friend and fellow FAIMERIAN Satendra put my convocation pic on Facebook and I was flooded with congratulatory wishes from friends and family. The day, the months and years preceding the day had been exhilarating.
I always had the passion to teach. FAIMER gave me an impetus to become a much better person and a teacher. Yes a better person as well, for this is the hidden curriculum. I learnt this from my mentors. A lot of things changed for me - the way I took my classes and tutorials, my classes became more interactive, for : 48 :
Physiology education journal. Within a month of completion of my Fellowship I got promoted as Professor in Physiology. I was an active member of the MEU of my institute, but being a FAIMERIAN gave me the confidence to participate more actively and in managing academic affairs with enhanced competence. We started in-house workshops for faculty training in our institute. We planned things, set up a medical education room and it was a joyous moment to see our names on the MEU board. When we had enough trained faculty in our institute our principal encouraged us to conduct faculty development programs under the observership of MCI in our own institute. After the initial hiccups we made a good beginning. Dr TS himself had come as the MCI nominated observer. He gave us a lot of practical tips and due to his able guidance we improved with each subsequent workshop.
Invitation and participation in DAFFRI meeting in September 2013 in Seth GS Medical college and KEM hospital was yet another experience which I cherish. I always remember my mentors' words – 'so what' and 'what next'. These words ring in my ear… what can I do next I have taken a back seat for a while, but I intend to get back to the pilot's seat again and it's time to push the autopilot button off. What I learnt from Dr Rita Sood as I sat next to her one day and asked her for a piece of advice. She said - Keep moving, don't stagnate…
I have been a Fellow for the first two years and the next two years i.e. 2012 and 2013 as a faculty. The time during the sessions flies, there's never a dull moment. I love it all. The sessions, the interactions, the tasks, the collaborations, the food, the shopping after the sessions and the famous Babaji ki ghanti....tnnnnn. I learnt how to be meticulous, how to plan the sessions well in advance, how to chalk a well planned session, how to bring back a wayward conversation back to the planned arena. I also went as a MCI appointed observer for Medical technologies faculty development workshops under CMC-Ludhiana. I realized it was so easy to sit on the other side of the table, analyze and reflect and give your feedback if and when desired. In the whole process you learn a lot as well. There are a few things that might need to be rectified and a few that need to be imbibed and re-used at your own institute. That's what collaboration is all about.
So here we are on the 10th anniversary of FAIMER, like the words of Sarojini Naidu's song of the palanquin bearers echo in my ear…. Lightly, O lightly we bear her along, She sways like a flower in the wind of our song. Gaily O gaily we glide and we sing, We bear her along like a pearl on a string.
: 49 :
SANDEEP KAUR CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2013 Professor, Department of Physiology Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bathinda, Punjab, INDIA.
My story of change .... FAIMER faculty was inspiring and motivating. The stations offered so much that I enjoyed its journey throughout and a constant pull was always experienced. The FAIMER Journey was thrilling and I feel confident that I am reaching a beautiful destination, as I have started experiencing a change from whatever I did during my FAIMER journey. FAIMER has given me the confidence to do much more in medical education. I have been able to conduct MEU workshops in my college and sensitize the other faculty members. This was possible with knowledge gained during my FAIMER Fellowship and by imitating the way in which FAIMER faculty conduct their sessions.
Three years ago, I had no idea what FAIMER was all about. The personalities of resource persons like Dr TS, Dr Dinesh, Dr Jugesh, Dr Gagandeep and Dr Harpreet in the basic medical education workshop inspired me to join FAIMER. I always thought that I was a good teacher. But my interaction with them made me realize that there was lot to learn, and my zeal for learning pushed me into the FAIMER train. I climbed the train with much enthusiasm to reach a beautiful destination where I would observe change in my personality, which would in turn bring a change in my surroundings. I would like to pen down my feelings which I had before I joined FAIMER.
I have dreamt of serving the humanity in a better way when I joined MBBS. I feared that I lost the track and my influence on health services will be limited to first Professional students only, when I joined MD in Basic Sciences. FAIMER has ignited a ray of hope in me as I can visualise my learning affecting the teaching, with implementation of new techniques in clinicals soon after the MEU workshop. This will affect the health services of my institution and may help my dream come true.
In the modern era, medical education needs a change A need for teaching-learning methods to change A need for assessment methods to change For this actions have to change The thinking has to change I feel only FAIMER can bring about such a change!! I would describe my FAIMER journey as one of push and pull. It was the initial pull which made me start the journey of FAIMER at CMCL. Along its way there were many stations like introduction, group activity, dinner, Survey Monkey, convocation, sharing of educational projects and online sessions. Each had something to offer. And this was an additional train which I had boarded, besides my train as a Professor in my speciality, and my family commitments. I have to push myself so as not to take a break from the online sessions and my educational project. The role of
I could see some flaws in the examination system as a student and as a faculty. I thought I will not be able to suggest and amend these. FAIMER has given me adequate knowledge of various types of assessment and ways to implement them. I feel more confident in setting all types of question papers and do suggest some innovative methods during Board meetings. The undertaking of an educational project is a challenge for my brain. The ability to think out of the box and share with others has opened many : 50 :
avenues in medical education. It has shown me the path that can lead to change in the health care delivery system. I now feel more capable to be a
Being introduced to other team members, made me realize that there is scope for change, The sessions gave me knowledge and made me interactive for a change Group activities made me include group dynamics in whatever I do for a change The cultural program made me feel that learning is fun for a change Survey monkey made my habit of reflecting and I thus experienced change Sharing educational projects gave me idea of innovations in MEU for a change
member of various university and institutional committees with the knowledge I have imbibed from FAIMER.
The Convocation ceremony made my apprehensions change Bill, Janet, TS and all the FAIMER faculty inspired me to change
Reflection is an art which I learnt during FAIMER sessions which has not only helped me in both professional and personal life. I never thought I have changed so much until I got the opportunity to reflect and write my FAIMER story.
A new improved teacher, person and administrator is the change Who will be instrumental in bringing everywhere more change!
In summary, my story of FAIMER change goes like this:
SANDEEP DOGRA CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2013 Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology Govt. Medical College & Hospital Jammu (J&K)-180001, INDIA
teaching, inquisitive learning and inspiring leadership and was always looking for an opportunity.
There is a Zen saying: “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” I have always believed that one should be open to mentors, for they will come to you, perhaps when you need them the most. Having not done the basic MET course, I had no idea of the vocabulary and concepts of teaching, learning and professional development. But I was aware that there is a paradigm shift taking place in teaching, learning and assessment. I am always passionate about unconventional
One fine day, an e-mail from a senior faculty and well-wisher from my ex-workplace informed me of an initiative called FAIMER. As a person who loves to work on tangents, I submitted my thoughtfully conceived 'Theory of Change' document close to deadline hoping that perhaps this is the change I am looking for! : 51 :
my work processes in conducting qualitative and quantitative research. I learned and then used team building, leadership and conflict management skills to my best advantage. More importantly, I discovered and realized the importance of planning well in advance and always keep I resonated very strongly with the design and execution of monthly online sessions. It was an amazing experience to brain storm on self selected P l a n B re a d y. A n o t h e r topics of interest in a structured and moderated environment. powerful learning was to be absolutely clear about the surprised to experience a distance mode feasibility and sustainability of research projects. educational programme actually working. I As a person, the fellowship has provided me with a resonated very strongly with the design and network of amazing partners in progress to whom execution of monthly online sessions. It was an I can count on anytime anywhere. At this age it is amazing experience to brain storm on self difficult to make friends again and I feel fortunate selected topics of interest in a structured and enough to have made a few of them. moderated environment. The change started from day one. The concepts of river crossing, group dynamics, note keeper and presenter impressed me and exposed me to a new form of team work which I was able to replicate even outside my class rooms. I was pleasantly
Finally, I discovered a whole new way of certainty in CMCL faculty. Their energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the cause of medical education is overwhelming. I am indebted and grateful to them for their mentorship and look forward to them for more opportunities.
As a teacher, I saw myself getting evolved from a teacher by default to a systematically trained
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world". -Mahatma Gandhi
teacher who for the first time discovered the Holy Grail – teaching, learning and assessment in a new avatar. I was happy and empowered to learn innovative methods and strategies to teach and assess students in resource limited setting as ours. Introduction of OSPE as a tool of assessment in undergraduates was one outcome of this. As a researcher, I was able to update and overhaul
: 52 :
SANJAY BEDI CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2007 Professor in Pathology MM Institute of Medical Sciences Ambala, INDIA.
Believe and work towards your dreams My FAIMER story has to be understood in the context of my pre-FAIMER days. In 1987 as a III professional student, I was reading an essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson when I was stuck by the line: 'Be careful of what you want, for you shall surely achieve it.' I was wonderstruck by this particular line. Another line from Robert Schuller's book 'Tough Minded Faith for Tender Hearted People' also quoted 'one must have a god sized goal'. I decided that achieving 'health for all' would be my goal as I was very idealistic at that time. I had nothing with me, no resources, knowledge, power, mentors or posts except for a gut feeling that it is an achievable goal. I did many activities on a day-to-day basis for taking at least one step everyday towards this goal; notably two post graduations in Pathology and Pediatrics and an active role in Indian Association for Medical Informatics, Indian Medical Association on ehealth aspects.
that time, but was simply impressed by Dr Tejinder Singh's personality. And I found a direction for my goal by coming in contact with him. I applied for FAIMER Fellowship with 'Electronic classroom for undergraduate students' as my curriculum innovation project. FAIMER gave me the courage to believe that something is “impossible” only until it becomes “possible” and then one can move to the next “impossible “task.
I decided to undertake: “Use of an electronic mailing list as a teaching aid as my curriculum innovation project.” Before taking up the project, I had a history of making many mailing lists on Yahoo and Google groups, mainly because of my conviction that this was a way to improve health status globally. It had all started first with an International Medicos Pen friendship Association for Creative Thinking (IMPACT) in pre-internet days. In the process I had done courses in Pediatrics, Pathology and Computer networking and was looking for some way in which I could interconnect all these sciences and place them in a more useful way. FAIMER gave me a way to interconnect with so many different people from different nationalities, branches both related to medical and non-medical professions, and in an IT enabled manner, which makes it modern and very-cost effective. I had the confidence that mankind can make a big difference in the coming decades by integration of technology with education My confidence multiplied and became manifold and now I was on my way to expanding my curriculum innovation project into a national
Many things fell in place with time, and I travelled far and wide in the country to get closer to accomplishing my goal. I was inducted into the Faculty (nominated governing body) of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, where I met Dr Tejinder Singh, our father figure from CMCL FAIMER. I joined FAIMER as a 2007 Fellow under CMCLFAIMER at Ludhiana, Punjab, India after I met Dr Tejinder Singh at a meeting about making a 'Curriculum for introducing computer education for undergraduate medical students'. I did not understand anything about medical education at
: 53 :
level as :
[email protected]. This initiative brought me nearer to a revolution in medical education, which I can see coming in the near future, with a big group of people networked together, making efforts towards making it a reality. Notably I came to know Dr Vinay Kumar, author of Robbins' Textbook of Pathology, who became my mentor by some natural chemistry. I see myself as deeply involved with the coming revolution as an important change manager with a roadmap and support available from all directions. There exist problems, some of which are very huge considering the size of the goal, but based on my past experience, everything gets solved given enough time, persistence and some divine intervention.
FAIMER along with the projects has brought me friends like Dr Adkoli, Chinmay, Payal Bansal, Ciraj, Praveen, Sucheta and Anshu and many others who have been pricelelss. Skype talks with Bill Burdick and email exchanges with Janet Grant have been very fruitful. This makes me feel very happy and satisfied that I have made a constructive contribution. However a lot still needs to be done, and I am making efforts towards improving global health through the techniques I have learnt at local, and national levels. I am sure with time and persistence we shall be able to achieve our aims which in turn will bring enrichment of life. Energo-Cybernetics taught me to fill up the gaps in the system.
The best compliment one can get, is seeing your project getting replicated by other departments. It gives me a solid boost, whenever I go to different parts of the country to see that I have a friend around who is willing to help me move closer to my goal. I am grateful to the FAIMER fraternity for inviting me to almost every NCHPE as a resource person. I have been nominated for the International Fellowship in Medical Education (IFME) which I consider a continuation of the activities I have been involved in. I see this as a natural evolution. Besides SEARAME 2012 in Coimbatore, I have attended SEARAME 2014 in Colombo this year which is my first international conference outside. It was an overwhelming experience as I made some international friends and I got to know about the scenario of medical education in their respective countries. The network is spreading its branches eventually directed in a definite purpose. I am grateful to my family who has always supported me along the way and made many sacrifices as well. Without family and financial support many things would not have been possible.
: 54 :
SANTOSH PANDE CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2011 Associate Professor, Anesthesiology Dr PDM Medical College, Amravati, Maharashtra, INDIA.
FAIMER - an acute turn It's hard to believe that at the age of 58, one can acquire academic excellence like a FAIMER Fellowship, that too from CMCL. But I was lucky enough to complete it.
computer savvy. Today I owe all achievements to CMCL-FAIMER only. I could use this knowledge for imparting skills to postgraduate students in our department. Microteaching sessions were really useful.
The journey started with my enthusiastic wife, who happens to be the Professor and Head of Dept of Physiology & Coordinator of MEU. She herself filled up the application form and insisted and encouraged me too. Before joining the medical college, I was all the time devoted to private practice in anesthesia, leaving aside all other family engagements. But how did I fall prey to my wife's enforcement, I too can't make it out. It was 6 years experience of joining medical college at the age of 52. And suddenly going for another academic achievement at the age of 58 was not that easy. We had to take a bold step and attend the first session under pressure as we were not permitted by our institution to go. But we had decided not to miss this opportunity and we landed up at CMCL.
Now I have a few papers published in my name. I was faculty in the basic course workshops and research methodology workshops. I have successfully conducted sessions on group dynamics, small group teaching and qualitative research. Crossing the river game was appreciated by all the participants.
I think, I was the only one who hardly knew anything about computers. During the first year session either my wife, Sushma, or other colleagues used to help me in this regard. I still remember that in last session of first visit to CMCL, Dr TS told me that “You yourself will have to do the online exercises and mail them”. On the last day of the first session, Dr TS asked everybody regarding their experiences of the session. I told him that the session was not an easy task for me. The second session was much better. I had improved a lot. Thanks to FAIMER faculty and their way of instilling active learning skills in us .
FAIMER fellowship has led to core changes in my life. Now I have developed research attitude in my academic and social life as well. I came out of my comfort zone and reaped the success. Finally I will like to say that: One who dives gets the gems, while the timid sits at the fence. I wish a grand success for this celebration at CMCL.
Now time has changed. I too have become : 55 :
SARABMEET SINGH LEHL CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2010 Associate Professor Department of General Medicine Govt. Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, INDIA.
Believe and work towards your dreams My first encounter with Medical Education Technology was at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh which conducted the National Teacher Training Course for Faculty. Many years later the FAIMER brochure landed on my desk. It was time to awaken my latent admiration for the subject. Completing the online formalities and finding an innovative project gave me some sleepless nights.
tremendously positive response from the faculty. I encouraged colleagues to participate in Basic and Advanced Medical Education Workshops. Now we have over 10 faculty members who have recently participated in either Basic or Advanced Medical Education workshops. My administrative duties included major new projects including the plan to set up a new Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. I am handling this extremely complex project through the management principles learned at CMCLFAIMER.
On the first day at CMCL-FAIMER we had literally crossed the Rubicon and burned our bridges. The winter was really harsh but the atmosphere was warm. The discussions were interactive. The 'innovative' projects were pulverized.
As member of the Institutional Ethics Committee, I used my experience at FAIMER to help develop systems for evaluation of proposals, format a standard consent proforma, coordinate with members of the Research and Thesis committees for developing a uniform system for Research and Ethics proposal submission. These processes are at an early stage but within six months we hope to have an online system.
On return to my institute, I was assaulted by the back-log of files desiring my attention. With my new-found “education” my ability to clear them in record time had improved. The FAIMER deadlines expedited their exit from my table. Students showed interest in my project while colleagues wondered what I was up to. One outcome of the FAIMER afternoon sessions was that I was able to direct the students in their ICMR Short-term Projects.
I am the Chairperson of the Sports Committee of the College and actively encourage student participation in athletic activities. My predecessor on this post had mooted the idea of a Club Football League for students to enhance vertical integration and team building spirit. Initially, I had my doubts but my medical education experience made me a believer. The
Being a member of the MEU, I helped the Professor-in-Charge coordinate intra-institutional educational activities, involving motivated faculty members to present various medical education topics. This ongoing activity has received a
I hope we are able to develop a medical system in our country which imbibes the best that the West can give us and blend it into our economically diverse patient population all of whom have a desire for good medical services, but may not have the means to attain them. The world of patient care and medical education should be flat.
: 56 :
all over the country. This gives me an encouraging view of the future of medical education in the country. Recently, I was invited for the prestigious i-Human project being coordinated in India by Prof. Vinay Kumar (Editor of Robbins' Pathology). My association with this project is largely attributed to my FAIMER connection.
Football League has now become a regular feature and has gone a long way in developing team spirit. I am hopeful that later in life, the students will become doctors who understand that medical care involves team work. My association with the FAIMER community includes being invited as an advisor for the yearly
I have coordinated two CME/Symposia sponsored by the National Academy of Medical Sciences (New Delhi) at our Medical College. My FAIMER experience helped me in planning and conducting the program as well as preparing the technical and financial reports. Much will depend on the development of a critical mass of faculty who are trained in medical education and provide our students with socially acceptable and achievable skills in health care. CMCL-FAIMER programs where I interact with a diverse group of enthusiastic medical faculty from
SATENDRA SINGH CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2011 Assistant Professor of Physiology University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, INDIA.
A few love stories never end! The train was already completely crowded, so I got up in advance as I was wary of the 2-minute stoppage time. I squeezed in and managed to get some standing room by an open door. It was a st chilly winter night, 1 Feb 2011, Tuesday to be precise. The Shatabdi slowed down in sync with the Punjabi song which the guy behind me was humming.
journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. The majestic Brown Road took us to the FRI palace famous for imparting the romance in education. The motto of this most sought after FRI is 'How to teach so that students and facilitators both fall in love with learning.' A chosen few around the globe are blessed with experiential learning in the sacred Valentine month.
A cool Ludhiana breeze kissed my cheeks as I peeked outside unaware of The listserv gave wings to my innovativeness, be it the blog in the Conflict Management what to expect next. The month, use of song in the Feedback month, or the FAIMER Christmas message. : 57 :
Romance was in the air. There were red table cloths, warmth of the faculty, heart-shaped candies and roses on each table, things you'd expect in Valentine's month. The background echoed both Rafi-Lata songs as well as Adi's Malayan song 'Ra-Sa-SaYa'. And, there was a bell.
The FRI experience gave me the requisite skills and the confidence needed to conduct any session. Looking at the stalwarts like Dr TS and Dr Badyal, I realized that the value of experience is not in seeing much, but in seeing wisely. You don't have to take notes rather you have to open your mind. It helped me immensely in many outreach workshops conducted by our MEU. I managed to publish in Really Good Stuff in M e d i c a l E d u c a t i o n , fe w publications in Advances in Physiology Education as well as got opportunity to be on the editorial board of a few journals in medical education.
We were taught the three phases of education to develop critical thinking: Romance- the joy of discovering the wonder of educational principles. So what- a way to analyze and acquire new facts. Reflection- the joy of knowing what to do and how to do it in future.
The CMCL experience gave me the necessary knowledge, 'know how' and 'show how' and I was able to execute it in a framework. Our MEU workshops culminated into a Thesis writing book. I was appointed Coordinator of the Enabling Unit for persons with disabilities which I revived. I conducted many outreach workshops. I followed my dream of evolving a Medical Humanities Group and now we have rhymed the romance into RHiME. I was partly successful in a few policy changes with MCI on disability issues; my disability activism in unconventional ways is yielding few results and recently I have been
Buoyed with this new found perspective I returned back to the station in a repeat of an iconic scene from one of India's most beloved Hindi film. I finally get the green signal from the ghanti wale baba to go live my life with my new girlfriend – the listserv! Next comes a completely mesmerizing sequence showing me running in slow motion towards listserv's ML web sessions, trying to get on the nitty gritty. After stumbling on a few reflections, I finally grasp her hand as she pulls me in on a fast track journey of medical education. My mentor, Dr Navjeevan Singh, once told me, “The elevator to success is out of order Satendra, you will have to use the stairs...one step at a time.” It was also true for the 2-year fellowship. There were no shortcuts. We toiled hard each month, step by step. And yes, during graduation too, lifts failed at CMCL but the beautiful reward was worth climbing. I got my fellowship from awesome threesome- Dr TS, Dr Piyush Gupta and Bill Burdick.
: 58 :
Listserv-my beloved girlfriend has now become my trusted friend smiling across in the virtual world, warming my heart. The mystery is still unfolding.
elected as member of the Delhi Medic al Council. MEU UCMS, my identity, taught me to dream and CMCL FAIMER fellowship taught me how to execute your dreams into reality.
Serenity of hers is never-ending, soothing....
The CMCL journey which began with the tag Rajesh Khanna (as given by Zil-e-elahi), continued as 'Prince' of batch 2011 in year 2 (again given by Dr Raju), to CMCL faculty observer, to NCHPE resource faculty to DAFFRI to ek choti si love story amidst numerous 'Aha,' 'Oo la la' or 'fevicol' moments.
It leads, lures, calls you... Ah, timeless burning flame! Her kiss is ocean salty water, you drink and thirst increases...you long and pray for more... Ring…ring…. a soft twinkling sound, of Dr TS' bell brings back me into reality. The bell symbolizes guidance and return. CMCL fellows are eagerly th waiting for the 10 anniversary.
CMCL experience was a launching pad for capacity building as well as an international perspective. I remember I wrote 'collaboration with 15 year 1 fellows + 15 year 2 fellows +faculty' as my answer in response to a question in gallery walk. The enchanting journey had many memorable
Yes, a few love stories never end!
exchanges with Bill Burdick, Ralf, Mary Beth, and virtual exchanges with Janet (milenge milenge). It was also a platform to know so many diverse faculty from other FRIs like Dr Supe, Dr Saoji, Payal, Henal, Rashmi, Munira, Ciraj, Animesh, Chinmay, Sudha & Ramalingam. P Ravi Shankar, Supten, Nalin Mehta and BV Adkoli. Words fell short for describing my cofellows from 2011. : 59 :
SELVAM RAMACHANDRAN CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2013 Associate Professor, Physiotherapy Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences 5th Mile, Tadong, Gangtok, East Sikkim-737102, INDIA
FAIMER fellowship – periscope of HPE practice The FAIMER fellowship has provided quite a rich and meaningful learning experiences making our intellect strong and dynamic. As Socrates pointed out: Strong minds discuss ideas- beyond people and events. This fellowship program has strengthened our thought process to think, discuss diverse ideas, and act in an innovative way. The professional impact of this fellowship program on the Fellows is multifold and is linearly proportional to the extent of internalizing FAIMER values.
UNIQUE ABOUT FAIMER FELLOWSHIP : The Curriculum Innovation Project (CIP): The core of the Fellowship program is that the Fellow should complete a CIP in his/her own institute thereby having the FAIMER impact percolating to the academic practice. It is thus not a conventional faculty development program confined to the fellowship training venue. Networking: The learning experiences of the Fellows widens and deepens with sharing knowledge and real life experiences through networking; it provides the great platform to learn through each other and learn together.
My interest for faimer fellowship:
Physiotherapy profession in India lacks a regulatory body, and at present it is largely a selfTarget group: While most of the opportunities are regulated profession. The academic practice is compartmentalized and discipline specific, taken for granted and anyone can involve in FAIMER offers this Fellowship to all health teaching-learning activities without any formal professions disciplines. The focus is more on the training. The Physiotherapy academia has failed process of education rather than the content. It is to inculcate the aptitude for inquisitiveness and truly inter-professional in its structure and form. critical thinking skills among the prospective physiotherapy professionals. While joining the Change agents: The selection criteria to the academia, I too didn't have any formal training. I Fellowship program is rigorous and only such felt it is totally unjust and wanted to upgrade Fellows were chosen who could act as change myself with the knowledge and skills of health agents and will be able to impact the professional education practice. The FAIMER fellowship has provided host of leadership FAIMER offers this Fellowship to all health professions skills to innovate and implement various disciplines. It is truly inter- professional in its structure & form. teaching-learning strategies in health administrators, co-faculty and students. This was professional education (HPE) practice. The done through the learning experiences that one concept of HPE in contrast to medical education acquired in the Fellowship program. was first emphasized by FAIMER compared to the Indian faculty development programs. Virtual Mentorship: The Fellows are guided throughout the Fellowship program by the near: 60 :
moments for me when my thoughts reflected through posts on certain issues discussed in the network were endorsed, discussed and deliberated by stalwarts in medical education. This Fellowship program has opened the floodgate of professional opportunities either directly or indirectly at professional, institute and university level. I was provided the opportunity to undertake FAIMER – WFME distance learning modules titled “Regulation and Accreditation of Medical Education” from .Jul–Sep2011. In sandy soil, when deep you delve, you reach the springs below;
peer mentors who would have just completed their CIPs. This model of mentorship embedded in this Fellowship augments the efforts of FAIMER faculty to strengthen the learning experiences of the fellows.
The more you learn, the freer streams of wisdom flow. – Thirukkural 396
Role Models: The Fellowship also provides rich and diverse role models for the Fellows to follow and internalize the learning experiences. The sharing of achievements and real life academic experiences of co-fellows and faculty provides the fellows the feed-forward besides one's own learning experiences. MY PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY POST FELLOWSHIP: Acquaintance with FAIMER Fellowship program has created a professional bond with fellow health professional educators and acceptance in the national forum of health professional educator's network. There have been many “aha”
Conducting the Workshop on Inter-professional Education at NCHPE 2014 held at MGIMS, Sevagram, Wardha : 61 :
SHAILA T BHAT CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2013 Professor and Head, Dept of Pathology Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal University, Karnataka, INDIA.
The woods are lovely…. various teaching styles and modalities have made a difference to the way I teach. I remember the adage about the importance of 'sharpening the saw' which was used by my peer. As a consequence, I plan better; use some of the large group teaching activities and am more conscious of creating a learning environment conducive to The design of the fellowship program at CMCL happy learning and positive outcomes. After a drives you to establish better self-mastery and decade of teaching, I have got the best teacher work synergistically with people towards a award, which is something of a milestone for me as my career as a teacher. My CMCL-FAIMER The carefully selected and vetted topics of discussion and debate opportunity has played a significant role in my prepared me for a better understanding of leadership roles. I am evolution as a teacher. now in a position to do justice to delegation, organization, When I applied for my FAIMER fellowship at CMCL, I had a hazy idea about what I wanted from the program. But at the end of two years despite not being able to do complete justice to the treasure trove of knowledge and ideas emerging from our list serv, it has changed me as a person.
preparing for and conducting result driven meetings.
common goal. I had the opportunity to use some of the critical yet often neglected areas addressed in the program in my professional capacity. Conflict management, using a Gantt chart to plan activities and doing the SWOT analysis amongst many other tools and techniques to foster a progressive environment. The carefully selected and vetted topics of discussion and debate prepared me for a better understanding of leadership roles. I am now in a position to do justice to delegation, organization, preparing for and conducting result driven meetings.
The Fellowship has generously provided me with a platform and network and I am looking at the Fellowship as the beginning of a long and interesting journey of self-discovery and as a facilitator of learning. I want to be able to innovate and refine in my areas of interest namely mentoring and self-directed learning. “The woods are lovely dark and deep and I have miles to go before I sleep…'' CMCL-FAIMER has opened a whole new world of opportunity to learn and teach. The exposure to seasoned and talented teachers, who made us believe that medical education need not be rocket science all it needs is the passion and common sense to put into practice your ideas for your educational environment. The support given by peers as we floundered and cheer as we took flight is one of the best things that have happened to me thanks to CMCL-FAIMER.
Teaching has always been a passion. In my job as a pathologist I mostly work behind the scenes in terms of patient care, so I don't get to savor the satisfaction of a sick patient maki ng a healthy exit. Teaching gives me the opportunity and gratification of being in sync with young minds and making a contribution to their journey in the medical profession. All our discussions about : 62 :
SHIVANI JASWAL CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2013 Associate Professor, Dept. of Biochemistry Govt. Medical College & Hospital, Chandigarh, INDIA
Be the change you want to see! I am reminded of what Mahatma Gandhi said: “Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it”.
My FAIMER story started when I applied for the FAIMER Fellowship program, motivated by a friend. The quest for learning newer teachinglearning and assessment methodologies was my basic aim. Little did I know that the FAIMER program was much more than just that! I found it to be a unique incubator program for ideas, skills and inspiration that combines with peer exchanges, world class academic training and hands on training as well. For me it has been an eye-opening experience of dynamic learning and self-discovery. The most important take home message for me has been “Be the change you want to see!!”. I have learnt that in order to do something, you have to want it. If you want something, only then you'll endure the struggle that comes with it. A change FAIMER has given me an opportunity to complement my academic background with a leadership training as well and equipped me with the necessary mindset and critical reflective thinking tools to approach challenges.
can thus happen only if you want to see it happen, and the only way to that is to put effort into it. “If it is to be, it is up to me” explains that too many people think that others such as leaders are supposed to be the change. FAIMER taught me that nothing will happen without our contribution. A change does not always have to be big, even a small miniscule change should be appreciated. The next important thing is commitment which means to give all the effort and thought into making a change we want to see happen.
Learning the newer teaching and assessment technologies was a great experience, but greater experience has been motivating faculty colleagues back home in adopting those. There have not been major changes that I can boast of. But yes, small changes have occurred which tell me that bigger changes may be around the corner. When I hear my faculty colleagues discuss self directed learning, problem based learning, formative assessment, summative assessment, OSCE/OSPE, I cannot resist a smile of satisfaction. FAIMER has provided me with an incredible opportunity to personally develop as a leader by knowing myself, learning from colleagues and experts and developing a peer network. I find myself feeling responsible for participating and contributing in the faculty development programs organized by the MEU of our Institute. Having four FAIMER fellows in the Institute, the MEU has now become more regular in organizing faculty development programs. Recently I was nominated as MCI Observer for the MCI Basic Course workshop. Being a part of FAIMER, teaches me how to do role play in real time. My questions have transformed, my quest has become bigger and I am getting trained on how to be the change agent!
: 63 :
SHEENA SINGH CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2006 Professor & Head, Dept. of Physiology Christian Medical College & Hospital Ludhiana, INDIA.
The FAIMER Fellowship brought a wealth of information and learning my way. I grew in my professional capability as a teacher of Physiology and also got many opportunities to apply what I had learnt.
What I learnt and continue to learn in the FAIMER Program has helped dispel old dogma and provide me with a scientific and sociological basis for teaching. I have a deeper understanding of the impact various learning situations have on the learners. It gives me a wider vision of the far reaching effects of what we do with the students in first year on their becoming competent doctors and impacting the health of the community.
From being confined to our subject, department and colleagues, I entered into another world of educators and those who cared about quality education to be imparted to health professionals.
I would like to express my gratitude to the Faculty of FAIMER and the local Faculty at CMC Ludhiana
Through my project I gained useful insight into what motivated students to enter the field of Medicine and what I as a teacher could do to provide them with a supportive and interesting learning environment.
: 64 :
SHUBHADA GADE CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2010 Asst Professor, Dept. of Physiology NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre Nagpur, INDIA.
Be the change you want to see! Year 2009, December, My husband received a call from Dr Dinesh Badyal (as my phone was not reachable). Little was I aware that this call will change my life forever. I was selected for the FAIMER fellowship at CMC Ludhiana for the year 2010. Excitement coursed through my veins and thus began my journey into the field of medical education technology.
Nagpur & nearby regions. I also organize advanced workshops like PBL, Interactive Classroom Teaching for the teachers and communication skills workshop for the undergraduate and postgraduate students of our institute on a regular basis. As an effect of this training and the fellowship, I took up a number of research projects in medical education technology and published 15 papers in national and international journals. While doing so I realized that there are very few journals which are exclusively devoted to research in medical education technology. Of course there are academic journals but there is little scope for education articles. So the thought of launching a journal, exclusively devoted to education technology accommodating all the disciplines of health sciences came into my mind.
At that time I was working as Secretary of the MET unit in my institution, NKPSIMS & RC Nagpur and was interested in this field. The guidance and the training that I received during the fellowship at CMCL and thereafter on listserv discussion changed my lookout towards medical education. There was no looking back after that. I completely immersed myself in medical education. I went on to do my advanced course of 6 months from MUHS Nashik in the same year. Presently, I am pursuing my MCI recognized advanced course
I worked on it sincerely and my efforts bore fruit in September 2014, when, as an editor I launched our own e-journal 'Journal of Education Technology in Health Sciences (JETHS)' with the rock solid support from two more FAIMER fellows, Dr Suresh Chari, Editor-in-chief and a GSMCFAIMER fellow and Dr Tapasya Karemore, Asst. Editor and also a CMCL-FAIMER fellow. That speaks about the spirit of FAIMER fellowship and strong bond amongst the FAIMERians. I am also working as a section editor of 'Panacea' an indexed journal of NKPSIMS & RC Nagpur.
FAIMER changed my life, changed my lookout towards medical education, it taught me to think and act. Hats off to FAIMER!.
in medical education from JNMC Sawangi (Meghe) Wardha. There are three distinct effects of FAIMER fellowship in my life: it made me a good trainer; it sharpened my organizational skills and inspired me to undertake research in medical education technology.
FAIMER fellowship gave me the rare and prestigious opportunity of representing MCI, New Delhi, as an Observer in one of the Basic Courses in MET at JNMC Sawangi (Meghe) Wardha.
FAIMER gave me the strength and the vision to organize ten MCI-recognized and 4 MUHS recognized basic courses in MET workshops for approximately 400 health sciences teachers of : 65 :
has completed 25 years; and the year 2015 will be celebrated as the Silver Jubilee Year. Once again my institute reposed faith and trust in me as the organizing Secretary of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations. A huge responsibility indeed! But I am sure I will be able to do justice to the task.
My organizational skills were tested when as an organizing secretary, I successfully organized a Maharashtra state level conference on 'Research in Medical Education Technology: Opportunities & Challenges' in January 2012, with participation of over 350 delegates from all over Maharashtra and presentation of 35 educational posters in the FAIMER Format.
Now I am a regular MCI & MUHS recognized faculty for Basic and Advanced course in MET. Because of my contribution in the field of medical education, JNMC Sawangi invited me as a member of its Board of Studies and as a member of advisory board for the degree and diploma courses in health professional education. I am also a reviewer for four journals devoted to educational technology. And the journey is on. One small step at a time, leading to another. Now when I look back, I realize that without FAIMER, my life would have been restricted to physiology and nothing much would have happened beyond physiology.
This year, in 2015, our institute, NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Nagpur,
SHYAMALA HANDE CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2012 Deputy Registrar - Academics (Health Sciences), Manipal University, Professor of Histology Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal-576104, Karnataka, INDIA.
Pancha-ratnas: lessons learnt at CMCL-FRI Let me share with you the lessons that helped me sail through my fellowship years, experiences that enabled me to hone my skills; practices that encouraged me to be more effective and the path that has brought me to where I stand today. These are priceless experiences I would call as five jewels or the “Pancha-Ratnas”.
miss one or two, however careful you are. Having said this, I realized that I had indeed missed an important email from Dr Dinesh asking FAIMER fellows to write their stories. I read it again. Interesting!! A story? My story? Wow!! I have never thought about it before!! Let me try. I was contemplating, should I write or should I give it a miss? Who will be interested to read my story? My story will be a very ordinary story. But I have read
1. A world of opportunities Among the several emails that pour in everyday from CMCLFAIMER, it is not uncommon to
It is often said that "thoughts shape up when you put them down". Reflective writing is one of the best practices at CMC Ludhiana : 66 :
There were timelines, exchange of ideas, new concepts, questions thrown open, where fellows were challenged to think, talk, research, write and show some tangible outcomes. Should I call it coincidence? Synchronicity? Or just another incident in my life? Or, are these accidental? I am still researching on that because my FAIMER fellowship commenced in 2010 and many of my humble achievements seem to have commenced after this wonderful fellowship experience at CMCL-FRI. This goes to prove that “A diamond is a chunk of coal that is made good under pressure” and this is one of the best learning experiences I have had.
that people would believe ordinary stories, not fairy tales. I would never have thought of writing about myself or my experiences, but at CMCL, this is one good example of how they really challenge you with new ideas almost every other day. It is said that "Opportunities do not just come along, opportunities are there all the time - we just have to see them". This is very true here. 2. Striving towards excellence My mentor once gave me a bookmark about “excellence”. It reads "When you do the common things of life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world". At CMCL the fellows are motivated to do exactly that. I appreciate, admire and acknowledge the faculty and mentors who are truly role models and emulating them is an honor. Whether it is the contact sessions, ML web, the networking, the guidance or any other matter, you name it, "it's the Midas touch". 3. Bringing out your potential
If you are quiet, it does not mean that you do not know. Being quiet is acceptable and this is the third lesson I learned and experienced at FAIMER. You don't have to As a member of the MUFIILIPE core team at the be vocal. You can express yourself; your talent, DAFFRI meeting in September 2014 your strength, and your values in whatever way you feel comfortable!! Wishing CMCL-FAIMER Regional Institute every 4. Developing personal philosophy success and a much brighter future in the years to come. It is often said that "thoughts shape up when you put them down". Reflective writing is one of the best practices at CMC Ludhiana. That is Dr Tejinder Singh's way of making fellows learn, review and reflect. I have realized that it is one of the finest ways of learning and improving upon oneself.
With gratitude to Competent faculty Mentors Class of 2010 Listserv friends
5. Diamonds are forever: “Forever” learning experiences
: 67 :
SOUMENDRA SAHOO CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2012 Professor and Head, Ophthalmology Melaka Manipal Medical College, MALAYSIA. CMCL - FAIMER Faculty
The journey from fellow to faculty My way of expanding FAIMER would be 'Family of Affectionate International Medical Education Revolutionaries'!
medical teacher. Diverse views from diverse Fellows and faculty could trigger my thought process in solving various elements about my role as a teacher. I could successfully make alterations to my style of teaching and facilitating. I could bring qualitative changes to the assessment strategy. Introducing e-PBL through Google Whiteboard activities, role-play for communication using Calgary-Cambridge guide and enhancing the efficacy of community based education through student-doctor approach are a few of the teaching-learning strategies that I could develop. I owe a lot to my Fellowship training at CMCL-FAIMER for these.
My entry as a Fellow at CMCL-FAIMER brought lots of excitement and apprehensions. No sooner than I'd had my first taste of the CMCL Fellowship (through a popular way of introduction called Gallery Walk), I uncovered a lovely journey ahead. This event made me realize that innovation and out-of-the-box thinking were the keys to transformation in medical education. I could successfully assimilate these concepts, and apply them in various platforms later. One such golden opportunity was during my moderation month of the ML Web session, where I could apply some of my innovative tricks fruitfully.
Facilitating an e-Learning session at the Computer Lab of MMMC, Malaysia
The educational play in the form of the famous 'crossing the river' activity of CMCL-FAIMER was an eye opener for me in understanding the basics of group dynamics. That experience bought about a change in my tactics in handling small group sessions. In fact, I made it a point to have such type of tasks during each orientation day of the clinical postings in my department. The interactive way of learning various intricacies of medical education during our first residential session through the friendly approach of the committed CMCL-FAIMER faculty members was not only amazing, but also made an immense impact on my understanding of the concept of a CMCL-FAIMER has brought substantial changes in me as a teacher, facilitator, researcher, administrator, leader and as a good human being.
: 68 :
My innovation project saw me refining my research skills in medical education. I learnt the scientific way of doing the project through meticulous understanding of theory and practice. The mentoring by fellows and faculty, the process of finding solutions to anticipated hurdles while carrying out the project, online discussion of progress, receiving feedback and feed-forwards, analysis of data, preparation of manuscript, presentation of poster through another innovative way- all these made me realise the existence of best evidence in medical education. I salute to the creation of such a systematic approach used by FAIMER. Besides the core outcome of my project and its implications at the institutional level, the additional benefits like, strengthening interpersonal rapport with colleagues and students, the surge in collaborative
This was one of my golden moments as I had opportunity to share my thoughts as a facilitator with stalwarts like Janet Grant, Dr TS, Dinesh and other CMCL-FAIMER faculty members during those sessions. It certainly honed my skills as a facilitator.
activities and educational research in my institutions have been a pleasant shock for me. More so, understanding qualitative research in medical education and manuscript writing during the interactive residential session and ML Web sessions, made me understand the process better. I was not well versed in these before taking up this Fellowship. Now I feel proud to say that a couple of my educational research manuscripts (one of them on qualitative research) have been published in indexed journals. Since my poster presentation a t C M C L - FA I M E R during our 2nd residential session, I have presented more papers at various international medical education conferences.
Like a popular saying frequently used at CMCLFAIMER…'Yeh dil mange more' (The heart wants more)! God willing, I will strive to go up the medical education training pyramid. Thank you CMCL-FAIMER for making me understand what I am in the medical education field. I owe a lot to you and hope this lovely bond continues for rest of my life. I sincerely wish you good luck for the forthcoming 10 years' celebration of CMCL-FAIMER. “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” -Aristotle
Facilitating one of the FDPs organised at MMMC, Malaysia One of the thrilling moments was when I got an invitation to be a FAIMER Faculty member during the 9th CMCL-FAIMER Regional Institute sessions.
: 69 :
SUMAN SINGH CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2008 Professor, Department of Microbiology Pramukhswami Medical College Karamsad - 388325. Gujarat, INDIA.
Teachers are born, but can also be trained “You are born to teach” is something that I have heard my friends tell me again and again. They knew, as I would often catch one of them and begin teaching. I enjoyed teaching a lot and am sure my friends also learnt from me to some extent. But I never knew that it was not necessary to be born as a teacher to teach, as one can learn to be a teacher. One does not just teach, but also transforms lives through teaching.
When I look back, it has been a long distance that we have traveled together since 2008. The seeds sown during the year-long training have really borne fruit. It has been worth all the effort that we have put in. The best thing that I have gained through FAIMER is to learn to be patient and optimistic, and to make every effort to be the change that I want to see. The opportunity to be a faculty observer, and then a faculty member at CMCL really helped in truly imbibing the principles of medical education. It has been a great pleasure and privilege to learn from Dr Tejinder Singh. His clarity of concepts and ideas in education have always fascinated me and we are very proud to have been associated with CMCL.
My formal introduction to the FAIMER family was sometime in July 2006 when I attended an institutional faculty development program. One of the faculty members was a FAIMER Fellow and I got interested in this new terminology then. I wanted to know more about it due to my inbuilt interest in teaching. The more I learnt about it, the more fascinated I became with the philosophy of FAIMER and its determination to serve mankind through its mission to improve education. I applied for the FAIMER fellowship at CMCL in 2008, but was disheartened as I was wait-listed. My joy knew no bounds when I got a call at the last moment. I was very happy as I was accompanied by my better-half, who had already been selected for the Fellowship. It was a year full of academic activities, collaborative learning, online learning, understanding new concepts, exhaustion, neverending tasks and deadlines. But the team spirit, support from family, fellows, faculty and my institution, along with the excitement of becoming a part of the big FAIMER family, was enough to carry us towards the destination.
The change in education has been initiated. We have grown along with the institution. Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad, our institute can confidently boast of having plenty of FAIMER fellows and we feel proud to be a part of it, as it is one of the best performing MCI regional centres for medical education technology.
Thank you FAIMER, for providing us the opportunity to serve mankind in a noble way and giving right direction to the inherent potential in me. : 70 :
The smile and satisfaction on the faces of MCI Basic and Advanced Course workshop participants is worth the efforts that have been made to fulfill the mission of serving society through improvement of medical education and the health care of community at large.
SUSHMA PANDE CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2012 Professor & Head, Physiology Dr PDM Medical College Amravati, Maharashtra, INDIA.
My faimer journey and life ahead I came to know about FAIMER fellowship during my Basic Course training. I was curious to know about it. Online search gave me detail idea about fellowship. I started filling the form for 2011 fellowship which itself was a challenging job for me. It took span of about 2 wks. or so, in that period I used to receive mails from Dinesh sir, whether I need any help. I was very impressed by the helping attitude of the faculty. My better half also applied for the fellowship. I was very eager to get selected, but was disappointed to know that I was wait-listed. I had many hurdles to cross, but finally both of us were lucky enough to have an opportunity to be a part of 2011 batch in first attempt itself. Thanks to CMCL. First residential session at Ludhiana was memorable one. Two years fellowship was an enriching experience. This was the first instance of collaborative learning of my life. I was exposed to a treasure of knowledge & resources. Though it was quite exhaustive & keeping us on our toes, with each others' support we could successfully complete it. Now I feel as a part of the big FAIMER family where everybody is eager to help when needed.
coordinator of MEU, I am the Chair person of teaching learning evaluation committee for NACC, member of Institutional ethical committee, scientific committee, academic committee, Steering committee for NACC, etc. Now due to realization of group dynamics & team spirit, I can contribute in a better way in the functioning of these committees. Medical Education Unit at my institute had not organized faculty development workshops. After my basic course I had to shoulder the responsibility as coordinator. The FAIMER fellowship provided me confidence to organize & conduct the sessions as a trained resource faculty. I could implement various teaching-learning strategies, interactive sessions, role plays, games etc. in faculty development workshops. Sessions conducted were appreciated by participants & MCI observers. It also gave me courage to be a faculty for Research Methodology workshops. I can guide my faculty members about teachinglearning methods & research activities.
This fellowship caused a major change in my attitude as a teacher. I realized that I have to empathize with students and that, teaching should be more interactive as we experienced at CMC. Active involvement of students in learning process really helps them learn better. After completing FAIMER fellowship, I am a part of the most important committees at my institute. Apart from heading the Physiology Dept. & being
: 71 :
During fellowship, I have developed a liking for Medical Education . I have presented posters at State & National conferences in Medical Education. It was really a great moment for me , what we call “Aha” moment, when my extended FAIMER project was published in one of the prestigious journals, Adv Physiol Educ by American Society of Physiology. The recommendations made on “Introduction of Basic Life support in I MBBS” are implemented in syllabus of Physiology for I MBBS by MUHS, Nashik .
including the one on 'Education for Health' published by Maharashtra University of Health Sciences. FAIMER has provided the vision & direction for developing myself as a competent medical teacher. I feel that more & more faculty should be thus trained. I try to motivate the faculty from my Institute & other institutes which I come across at workshops & other events, for applying for the fellowship and enhancing their career ; because it is said:
I have publications in other journals as well. Due to the knowledge & experience acquired at FAIMER , I am the reviewer for a few journals
“There is no way to get experience through experience.”
except
SUVARNA GANVIR CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2011 Professor PDVVPF's College of Physiotherapy, Vilad Ghat, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra - 414111, INDIA.
Post Fellowship Journey Direct benefits
which give me the opportunity to pay back the knowledge gained during the fellowship to the profession.
As a result of getting selected for CMCL- FAIMER fellowship in 2011, I was invited as an observer for Advanced workshop in Health Sciences Education Having been equipped with the requisite in July 2011 at our university Institute of Medical knowledge, I took the lead in establishing Education Technology. It was like another dream Physiotherapy Education Unit at our institute one come true for me. It was a proud moment when in year back. Ours is the only Physiotherapy institute the next workshop I was invited as a faculty. with this unit in our University. The main aim of Besides taking the sessions I showed my interest our unit is to develop a validated question bank in taking the charge of online discussions which and a teaching-learning resource material bank. was gracefully accepted by HOD, Institute of With the support of a 5 member team at my Medical Education Technology. I was given the institute, till now we have completed 50% of the responsibility of moderating the online work. It is planned to extend this work to the discussions which were later converted into the university level in near future. online assignments. Now, I am a regular faculty at my university for both Basic as Experience at the intersession topics not only enriched me in terms of well as Advanced Workshop continued knowledge but also made me aware about netiquettes. : 72 :
My curriculum innovation project helped me to understand the undergraduate research programme thoroughly and I could frame the guidelines for this programme at our university level. At present I am working on the long term impact of this programme in terms of quality of studies being conducted and the rate of their publication.
for me during organizing a state level Physiotherapy conference at our institute. I still remember the ringing bell during contact sessions which alarms to be on track again in case I lose my focus. Moderating the discussions along with record keeping gave first-hand experience of online learning which was new to me. Learning did not end with the completion of my Fellowship. But it is continued till today with being able to participate in the discussions of subsequent batches with a range of interesting topics.
Indirectly, CMCL-FAIMER fellowship has made a great impact on me as a teacher- the most important being that I learnt to be a student again. Once I completed my Masters I thought there is
nothing more to learn. But the Fellowship made me realize and emphasized that learning never ends. Besides, all aspects of the CMCL-FAIMER Fellowship i.e. the contact sessions, intersession topics and guidance received by senior faculty during final poster presentation, have benefitted me in various aspects of teaching-learning process. The organization, punctuality, schedule of sessions, daily feedback, the group work and activities during contact session was very useful
Thus CMCL-FAIMER fellowship helped me to grow as a professional and especially as a teacher. Learning still continues and there are still a lot of areas of medical education which I wish to explore.
: 73 :
TAMKIN KHAN CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2010 Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology JNMC, Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh, INDIA.
Worth the effort Most educational experiences begin with a list of pre-established objectives from the teacher and the taught. My love for teaching was the primary reason for joining as a faculty member at JNMC, Aligarh. Learning to be a better teacher, a better examiner and a better researcher were my primary objectives when I decided to join FAIMER. Maybe it would also give me an edge over others when I face my next interview, I wondered. But I knew that the MCI does not give it any weightage. Will it be worth investing so much time? Will I be able to complete the project mandatory for the fellowship? These were some of the doubts which troubled me when I decide to apply for FAIMER. But my experiences at CMCL Ludhiana were beyond any of these expectations and anticipations.
Assessment: I understood the importance of assessment in the learning process and started giving due time to it. Today I have been able to introduce OSCE, structured long case, structured viva and have improved the quality of long essays. Thank you so much Dr Tejinder Singh and Dr Dinesh Badyal. I cannot ever forget your 'jugalbandi' during the session on assessment at CMCL Ludhiana. Research:
The changes I experienced as a result of my Fellowship are:
The experience from my FAIMER project helped me understand the intricacies of research and the proper planning and evaluation that goes into it. I was introduced to qualitative research methods and feel confident in designing feedback questionnaires. I can definitely say that today I am a better researcher, a better reviewer and a better thesis guide.
Teaching
Professional Development:
The professional development portfolio that I was introduced to has helped me in future planning, organisation and reflection of my academic achievements. After my FAIMER experience I have attended an international I am glad that the FAIMER experience has brought a lot of changes conference at IMU, Malaysia and in me through its planned learning for us, but it has achieved much more that was unanticipated and unplanned. presented my project to the international audience. I have better teacher owing to my FAIMER experience. I published two papers and edited a special issue of learnt the difference between delivering course IJUDH on medical humanities. content and helping make people lifelong Interpersonal relationships, Leadership and learners. And Janet Grant- I loved each and every Management Skills: one of your dresses and the mesmerising effect you had on us. The meticulously planned and executed sessions by the faculty at CMCL helped me evolve from pedagogy to andragogy and later to heutagogy. I can reflect back and say that today I am a much
: 74 :
programme like FAIMER for a whole decade! Thanks to sessions on Concept Map, Gantt Chart, Evaluation, Conflict Management, Change Management etc. I think I am a better planner and executor of projects, better equipped to deal with and to bring about change and a more confident and acceptable leader for others. I would say my greatest learning point was that I had the opportunity of watching excellent role models.
Debby Diserens, I owe a lot to your last session about how to behave with your colleagues after returning from Ludhiana! It was an education in interpersonal relationships. Observing Dr Tejinder Singh and his team, their dedication, sincerity and professionalism -- and their passion above all --taught me what it takes to successfully run a
In summary, I would say the greatest change in me, is that I am a much better human being after the FAIMER experience, which I think is the most important achievement. Thank you FAIMER.
TRIPTI SHRIVASTAVA CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2012 Convener, MCI Nodal Centre Professor, Department of Physiology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Sawangi, Wardha-442004, Maharashtra, INDIA.
An experience which transformed existence Going down the memory lane, it all started when I realized that existence of a medical education unit in the university where I joined after my post graduation in Physiology. I was immediately registered for the basic course. The course was an eye-opener as it familiarized me that even medical education has principles, scientific approaches and demands lot of effort on part of teacher ( I find “Facilitator” more meaningful now) to make it meaningful , credible and consequential. Somewhere the cord was struck. However, I had no idea how to go further and fathomise the nuances beyond what was learnt as a part of basic course. The medical education unit was the only place where such a concept existed
and the permit to be a part of the unit was only for a privileged few. With a keen interest in teaching, I was always into some sort of experimentations which students may find interesting. At that time someone suggested me FAIMER fellowship as a suitable add-on, as I was much inclined to the field of education. I applied for the same in CMC, Ludhiana which was considered the best place for such a training. Months passed and one fine day I realized that I was not selected for the course. It was disheartening, but I tried to appear unperturbed. All the avenues appeared inaccessible and going further with my passion seemed impossible. Dr Ved Prakash Mishra (presently Chairman, Academic committee, MCI) : 75 :
took over as Vice chancellor of our University and he became instrumental in launching MSc in Health Professions Education. Knowing my keen interest in the field ; I was given a chance to get registered for the course. I grabbed this opportunity though it demanded lot of time and efforts. While doing the course, I gathered courage to apply again for FAIMER , CMC, Ludhiana in 2011. This time , to my surprise, I was selected! That too I was the only one from Central Maharashtra. ……..And the rest is history !
I reflect back as how it was taught in FAIMER. Subconsciously, the sessions taken by Tejinder Singh sir ( cannot forget his ever calm stance full of wisdom and insight) , Dinesh sir, Rashmi madam, Jugesh Madam and other faculty in Ludhiana guide me and constantly inspire me to explore more and learn more. I think , this quest kindled within me, after FAIMER, is what we educationists label as “life long learning” . I have
After completion of my fellowship in February 2014; I stand today as Head, Department of Medical Education & Convener of the Nodal center for National Faculty development , Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Wardha, not because I was destined to be, but because the training which I received during fellowship transformed me completely as an educator. I realized the strength of team work, feedback, mentoring , facilitating ……all which were till then just glossary of terms attached to education to make it more complicated. I imbibed every aspect of my training in my regular teaching assignments, administrative responsibilities, and research work. During my fellowship I was recruited as a regular faculty of School of Health Professions Education and Research. I worked tirelessly for the cause , no matter in which mode and modality it was expected to be. It was no looking back; the path was defined, the intentions were productive and the support was unconditional. During this period , we even started our in-house e-journal “Journal of Health Sciences Education” for which I currently work as chief editor. The FAIMER training evoked interest about educational research and since then I have published 16 articles in reputed journals and bagged a copyright. My FAIMER project regarding electronic Quiz games as a TL method was readily and suitably given a place in the curriculum. Even today , when I take faculty development sessions,
realized and embrac ed the most powerful indicator “REFLECTION” to assess oneself– morally, emotionally and cognitively. FAIMER has laid a strong foundation and credit for my achievements, small or large, is largely attributed to my training during the fellowship. I owe my accomplishments to the fellowship for changing my entire perspective, Dr Ved Prakash Mishra for bestowing faith in me and my abilities and Faculty of Medical Education School for embracing me readily without any prejudices. Currently I am pursuing PhD in Medical Education and look forward to meaningful and relevant contributions to the field . Thank you FAIMER for being a significant part of my life!
: 76 :
UMA GUPTA CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2012 Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology Era's Lucknow Medical College Lucknow. INDIA. “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires". —William Arthur Ward An important lesson I learned from attending the CMCL FAIMER Regional Institute is that teaching is a lot more than merely delivering knowledge to an audience. Now I believe that I have a huge role in building the future of medicine and a great responsibility to contribute to the future of the society. Today, I work in the era of a very knowledgeable and techno savvy group of students and it is my duty to inspire hope, ignite their imagination, and instill in them a love for learning & a desire to care for fellow human beings.
see them exceed their limits. I have started using many different and modern methods of communicating technical concepts to my students, such as showing them comprehensive charts with pictures, short videos, asking students to read various journal articles and hold group discussions. A very important method of teaching is to inspire students to think and come up with their own ideas and think of modern approaches for solving the vast number of issues constraining the medical system in our country. I assign small projects to different groups of students and have them present their findings and reports to the class. This helps them develop awareness towards the problems and think about solutions.
The first mail of Dr TS, helping me in refining my project while still applying for the Fellowship was a soothing note. Then came the letter of selection from Dr Dinesh. Balle balle was the feel. My happiness knew no bounds. Everything was so systematic- from answering mails in the thread, to learning how to write educational articles. Such tremendous zeal and untiring efforts! It gave the essence of caring and sharing. My salutes to all the stalwarts of my institute.
In conclusion, teaching students today is to indulge in lateral thinking i.e., thinking out of the box. Thinking of unusual and innovative ways of approaching a topic and using activities to demonstrate the same helps the average individual will be able to understand the unusual because of the way a topic is dealt with. This would indeed be an advance in the methodology of teaching as the student is going beyond what the teacher is able to convey. The CMCL-FAIMER fellowship has helped me build myself and the immense confidence it gave me as a teacher and is proving to be very beneficial to me and my students. I am very positive that inculcating modern and innovative methods to teach students will definitely help me develop a generation of hardworking, sincere, and knowledgeable doctors.
In order to do this, the method of group discussion has been extremely useful, as the student feels involved; team work is appreciated by one and all as more ideas are generated on the same concept. I connect with my students in various ways and I will consider myself a successful teacher when I
God bless us all and keep our flag rising high.
Today my lectures are more interactive, involving a lot more of student participation and group discussions than just being a one-way mode of communication of concepts and ideas.
: 77 :
VEENA AJAY CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2013 Associate Professor, Dept of Microbiology JJM Medical College, Davangere, Karnataka. INDIA.
Winds of Change I do not have an interesting incident or a fancy story that happened during my FAIMER project which I can narrate. Instead here I am sincerely putting down my heartfelt feelings regarding my experience after getting selected to FRI, CMCLudhiana. FAIMER- the word itself was something that attracted me soon after I got introduced to the Medical Education unit in our institution. I started by just being a member, a raw one- with no prior concept or knowledge about it. The only thing I had was my immense interest in teaching. As I started attending conferences, I was drawn towards FAIMER. First when I applied, I just wrote in a very premature way. Obviously it got rejected. It took me one and a half years of groundwork to finally write up the project and get selected to the esteemed CMC Ludhiana. These two years of online discussions, contact programs and group activities have really brought a change from within. I have evolved as a mature teacher who can now understand the students' perspective very well. Above all my mind is open to new ideas and co lla b o rat ive co n c ept s . Sharing a platform with others without any prejudices is one thing that I have learnt in these two years. Team based approach which is inculcated into our minds by all the eminent faculties have given me immense strength : 78 :
to apply it in my day to day work and it is working out well! Right now I am working as the Secretary of our district IMA. I am the first lady to sit in that chair. Concepts like collaboration and team approach have helped to keep my branch more active than ever! All the Executive Committee members work as a team and put up a lot of academic and other programs. This was possible only because of my FAIMER background. So I am very thankful to our beloved Dr TS, Dr Dinesh and the entire team of CMC, Ludhiana for being the agents of change. Now I know for sure that this change in my attitude and perspective is going to be within me and the light it emanates will show me the right path down the lanes of medical education.
VIMALA THOMAS CMCL-FAIMER Fellow 2013 Professor and Head Department of Community Medicine Gandhi Medical College, Hyderabad, INDIA.
'A teacher can never truly teach, unless he is still learning' -Rabindranath Tagore
educational environment of medical students and how they perceive us as teachers was an eyeopener for me. It helped me to see the difficulties the present day students are going through, the challenges they are facing and how often we, the teachers and our medical support system, fail them. I have in my position slowly tried to bring this to the notice of the concerned and hope that with time, see the winds of change.
I honestly did not know what FAIMER was or what it stood for till December 2010, when I was invited as resource faculty to another medical college for the Basic Course Workshop. There I met a FAIMER fellow (she had come as another resource faculty) and she basically initiated my awareness about this fellowship and kindled my interest in it.
Since I started this fellowship in 2013, I have become a Professor and recently the Head of the department too. FAIMER has helped me not only academically but also in my administrative capacity, where the issues of conflict and time management taught to us; has helped me solve so many crises. I am now also a member of the MEU Regional Unit in my college, Ethics Committee member, Dissertation Committee member and also a member of the Academic Committee of NTRMEDNET consortium and Digital Library of DR. NTR University of Health Sciences.
I had been teaching for a while and felt at that time that I was a reasonably good one. However the transformation I have seen in myself after starting my FAIMER fellowship is something I had never foreseen. From a more teacher-centric approach, I have changed to understand more from a student's perspective. I now try to always place myself in the student's position and teach accordingly and in doing so I feel that I am in fact learning more in the bargain! The innovative teaching styles and group work which I was initiated into at CMCL and which continued through the ML web discussions, have all helped me to improve my teaching style and make the learning atmosphere m o r e c o n d u c i v e fo r students to learn. A valuable lesson I have learned is that we have to learn to use teaching methods which will place the students in an active situation of learning and help create an environment that encourages students to teach themselves.
I think the change and transformation in me would not have been possible but for the support I have received from the CMCL team especially Dr TS and Dr Dinesh Badyal. The enthusiasm, commitment and discipline with which they all work, share and participate are something all of us must take a leaf from.
My FAIMER project where I tried to assess the A quote which so truly epitomizes the FAIMERian spirit:'Knowing is not enough, we must APPLY, : 79 :
a
i ot Jy
m la ee N
a eil Sh
a ch Ri
ur nk A
a rn va Su
a m sh Su
aj nk Pa
A
a Um
ra ga ne di
r ku Te
o jo Ra
am lv Se
h os nt Sa
a
k ve Vi
r de in op Ro
r nd te Sa
Yes
th an hw
Suman Gadicherla Babu ima n n r u Veena a P ay ar n m Ra Shubha K. Praveen a Sanjay Bedi Rit Preeti amal Neelk Vanita Lal n Bharti ava dha h g e ara M ijay Vim V ala PV n u r Puja A Bharathi Cla Gagan Bajaj renc e Madhuri Chandra l Leh i l ko d ir A Ranab gar atna h B it a sh Kav eti vina e r P A Heta l
jit Sitalakshmi ck l Ja a y Aroma Alka Pa ta p i Harpreet D Juhi Chandrika Anshu Malo n hit Anumeha ru Chetna Anil M Sh aila Biplab e Pete in r el Inderpreet mir u q A Ja SM Bhatti oy t Ciraj e onm r i n H Ja Manasee la Sandeep a m Kalpana D a ogra Shy lf Deepak a R Madan Nilim a l a Ma Hem njin Vim Dilara der Abhijit Ilesh PV Varughese ebby hra t a D Z ar ew Anurag t Navneet Jayshree Rakesh S Dixit m a n Sa Sab Jasleen ita iam Sukhinder Shubhada ll i W Laxmina Mrunal Krithica rayan a un ar hi kin ta t n K a y Shuc Ja Tam che Madhuri Su Vija Omna y Pr e atap tt Jyotsna ne a D Neerja Monika ia s e d u K ittal Sandip kesh M mya a R h P u s armod me So Ra nie A n u it a in le M ree Ganjiwa Pun h Jias anth Sum ra Punam d Mala Shaveta en Gok l m u ue ul Tripti So Sam a t Dinesh i Meena Sun sh u y n Upreet Pi ava a Srikes l ar sh a l um t Gita ma r K n i Pa N inesh ka k ra S D e d v a n deep Ka Vi Suman an ur h C Soumendra Anupam s Vasudha ma MunaRa o kesh Da h l T pni tta Swa n a i r p Suchit Bi d m o a n San Vi
dti an N
a ep De
Dubhashi t lji Da Gagandeep Amrita Maya i m Ruc sh hi a oy Ra Sanj ugdh M Meen akshi T. Venu Himanshu Mul Kalyan lai l Atul a Rim Sabyasachi Hem ey Roma ac Nee St ti Sajjad a Jayanthi Vijaya Krishn Subhram oy Salman n James nie a s s Ha er Satish ge ind Pa Tej Bharati Mehta Sheena T apa sya Shivani Uma Gupta
Sime r
CMCL - FAIMER Regional Institute Christian Medical College, Ludhiana & Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research Philadelphia, USA Published By : Dr. Dinesh Badyal on behalf of CMCL-FAIMER Regional Institute, Department of Medical Education, Christian Medical College, Ludihana-141008, INDIA. Tel : +91-161-2115000, Ext. 5605, Email :
[email protected], Website : cmcl.faimerfri.org
![[GNI] 10-year report_VN.pdf](https://p.pdfkul.com/img/300x300/gni-10-year-reportvnpdf_59dabd371723ddbd3065f358.jpg)
![1 10 100 radius [AU] 10 10 10 10 10 10 - GitHub](https://p.pdfkul.com/img/300x300/1-10-100-radius-au-10-10-10-10-10-10-github_59ce8bc81723dd6a62ebbec5.jpg)
