PESHAWAR: The integrated curriculum introduced by Khyber Medical University in its affiliated institutions led to academic brilliance of the students of Khyber Medical College by getting six of the 10 top positions in recently announced results of final year MBBS examination.

KMC Dean Prof Mahmud Aurangzeb told this scribe that implementation of integrated curriculum in collaboration with KMU enabled KMC to regain its past academic glory in the current year.

KMC students Farah Gul secured first position, Mohammad Tabish Ikram second, Kamaluddin Azam fourth, Mohammad Abbas seventh, and Saliha Wazir eighth in the examinations.

Prof Mahmud said that it was his top priority to change the mindset of the faculty, who assumed that they were good teachers but was that scientifically true? To this end, I myself enrolled in Certificate for Health Professionals Education, a six-month programme, at KMU,” he added.

He said that 40 of their faculty members including he passed the certificate and it brought about a paradigm shift in their approach towards medical education.

“It was indeed a very instructive and intellectually motivating experience. I intend to encourage more faculty members to go through this course. We are in the process of expanding the department of medical education, which is currently engaged in moving towards an integrated curriculum starting from 1st year MBBS,” said Prof Mahmud.

He said that the integration would be vertical and horizontal. The basic subjects, which used to be taught in isolation, will be now connected with clinical subject right from the outset.

He said that research was never given priority in the past but it was now essential even at undergraduate level.

He said that they had an associate dean exclusively for research, the principles of which would be introduced from first year to allay the myths and anxieties surrounding research.

KMU Vice-chancellor Prof Ziaul Haq said that hundreds of faculty members working in medical and dental colleges and allied health sciences were clinicians or basic scientists by default but they were not trained in teaching.

“Through a faculty development programme, we are offering trainings such as six-month certificate, two-year master and three-year PhD in medical education with emphasis on improving communication skills, teaching and learning, critical thinking, inter-professional development, curriculum designing, assessment techniques, medical ethics, professionalism and leadership skills,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2021