UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY AT HCMC COORDINATES WITH HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL TO CONDUCT TRAINING FOR MEDICAL SCHOOLS IN THE VIETNAM – LAOS – CAMBODIA REGION: COLLABORATING FOR DEVELOPMENT

To enhance the quality of medical education and promote regional collaboration, medical education experts from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City (UMP HCMC) and experts from Harvard Medical School conducted a series of intensive medical education training workshops in Cambodia from February 5 to 7, 2025. The workshops were held at Puthisastra University (Cambodia), with the participation of faculty and leaders from Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy (Vietnam), University of Health Sciences (Laos), Puthisastra University (Cambodia), and Mahidol University (Thailand).

Image 1. Participating lecturers taking a commemorative photo

The teaching team from UMP HCMC included:

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vuong Thi Ngoc Lan – Vice President

• Dr. Nguyen Duc Khanh, PhD – Deputy Head of the Center for Medical Education, in charge of Lecturer Development

• Dr. Vu Thi Mai Uyen, MD – Lecturer in Pediatrics and affiliate of the Center for Medical Education

From Harvard Medical School, the faculty included:

• Dr. David Duong – Director of the Global Primary Care Program at the Center for Primary Care, Harvard Medical School; Faculty Member at the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital

• Dr. Barbara Gottlieb – Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Course Director for Primary Care Medicine, and Co-Chair of the Global and Community Health Program in the Scholars in Medicine/Pursuing Inquiry in Medicine course

This was the fifth in-person training workshop, held within the framework of the project "Strengthening Collaboration in Medical Education between Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia", supported by the China Medical Board (CMB), USA. On this occasion, leaders from CMB, including Mr. Roger Glass (President of CMB) and Mr. John Lichten (Vice President for Finance), visited and evaluated the project's effectiveness.

Image 1. Lecturers from UMP HCMC and Harvard Medical School are taking a commemorative photo with China Medical Board and Puthisastra University leaders.

February 5, 2025: Workshop on Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) and Integrated Teaching and Learning

The first day of the workshop focused on case-based learning (CBL) and competency-based medical education (CBME). Faculty from UMP HCMC and Harvard guided participants in active teaching techniques, developing discussion questions in CBL, and methods to guide students in approaching and appraising medical evidence. In the afternoon, the teaching team introduced the concept of CBME, its core principles, and the benefits of applying integrated teaching and learning in medical education. In-depth group discussions were also conducted to help faculty identify current challenges and propose solutions for implementing CBME at medical schools in the region.

Image 2. Lecturers engaging in small group discussions.

February 6, 2025: Training on Teaching Techniques and Assessment in Clinical Settings

The second day focused on workplace-based assessment (WBA) methods in clinical education. Experts from UMP HCMC and Harvard Medical School introduced tools such as Mini-CEX, DOPS (Direct Observation of Procedural Skills), and Multi-Source Feedback (MSF) to enhance the ability to provide feedback and assess medical students during clinical training. Faculty members also practiced direct observation and effective feedback skills to improve teaching and assessment quality in hospital settings. The day concluded with sharing experiences on CBME implementation at each institution, drawing lessons learned and proposing next steps.

February 7, 2025: Faculty Development and Sustainable Collaboration in Medical Education

The final day focused on faculty development strategies in medical education. Speakers from Harvard Medical School, UMP HCMC, and Mahidol University (Thailand) shared effective models for faculty training. The workshop also discussed strategies for maintaining and expanding regional collaboration in medical education, aiming to build a sustainable medical education network among Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

Future Directions

The workshop series created a valuable platform for collaboration among regional medical schools. The active participation of faculty and medical education experts from Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Harvard Medical School facilitated the sharing of experiences, updates on innovative teaching methods, and strategic directions for medical education development. With the spirit of "Collaborating for Development," the program is expected to open up long-term cooperation opportunities and contribute to improving the quality of training for doctors and health professionals in Southeast Asia.