Zahedan University of Medical Sciences

Report from: Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, International Affairs Office
Published on: 2 February 2023

A meeting was held on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, with the presence of a delegation from the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education headed by Dr. Melek Fazli, the representative of the respected people of Saravan city in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, Dr. Habib Ghaznavi, the chancellor of ZAUMS. Dr. Seyed Mehdi Tabatabaei, Advisor to the chancellor of ZAUMS for International Affairs, Dr. Saberi, Director of Health Technology Development of ZAUMS, and Mrs. Farzadeghi, Senior Expert in International Relations Office of the Iran"s Ministry of Health, and Mohammad Amin Ghafarzadeh, Deputy Director of Student Affairs, Scholarships and Schools Abroad of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with Dr. Adil Haider and Dr. Muhammad Tariq, Dean and Vice-Dean of the Aga Khan University Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan.

Saravan people"s representative in the Islamic Consultative Assembly meeting with the Dean and Vice Dean of the Aga Khan University Medical College pointed out the importance of educational and scientific cooperation in strengthening and continuing of historical relations between Iran and Pakistan. Dr. Malek Fazeli continued: education is an important part for the development and progress of the society and this cooperation can improve the health of the people of the region.

The chancellor of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, emphasizing the international status of Aga Khan University, introduced the scientific and research capacities of ZAUMS, including the presence of more than 400 faculty members, the existence of 8 research centers and the annual publication of more than 400 articles by ZAUMS faculty members. He suggested strengthening scientific cooperation in the form of online and in person scientific lectures, supervising student theses and research projects. Dr. Habib Ghaznavi, referring to the close geographical distance between Zahedan and Karachi, suggested that ZAUMS faculty members be sent to Aga Khan University to do their sabbaticals. He also officially invited the expert researchers of Aga Khan University to participate in the International Congress on Covid-19 World Experiments which will be held in May 2023 in Zahedan.

The Dean of the Aga Khan University Medical College announced his readiness for scientific and project-oriented cooperation with ZAUMS, referring to the historical commonalities of the founders of Aga Khan University with the people of Iran and the records of historical cooperation between the two countries. Dr. Adil Haider also emphasized on Iran"s successful experience in the field of COVID-19 management and the lessons that could be leant in this regard from Iran"s experience.

Dr. Muhammad Tariq, Vice- Dean of the Aga Khan University Medical College, briefed the meeting on the capacities of Aga Khan University and said: Aga Khan University is part of the Aga Khan Development Network, which focuses on economic, cultural and social development. This university was established in 1983 as the first private university and since 2000, university branches have been established in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Afghanistan (with the participation of France).

He continued: This University currently has more than 900 faculty members and 3100 students, every semester 100 medical students are accepted for studying in this university. Aga Khan University is the best university in Pakistan and the first university program in Pakistan to be accredited by the US-based Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).

At the end of the meeting, the parties agreed to define the discussed items in the form of scientific and research cooperation projects and announce them to Aga Khan University. It was also decided that a draft memorandum of understanding on scientific and research cooperation between ZAUMS and Aga Khan University would be prepared and signed by the chancellor of ZAUMS and the dean of the Medical College after the approval of the parties as a roadmap for research and treatment cooperation.

It was also decided that 2 to 3 medical students of ZAUMS, who are preferably fluent in Urdu or English, will be sent to Aga Khan University to take free elective rotation courses. Next, the delegation of Iran visited the center of innovation in medical education of Aga Khan University accompanied by Dr. Muhammad Tariq. This center has a large multi-purpose training hall, four conference halls, twenty-two classrooms for small group learning, an open- plan teaching space and seven simulation laboratories. The simulation spaces at the center provide any type of clinical space including patient care wards, operating rooms, gynecology and obstetrics wards, pediatrics, dental labs, and angiography and endoscopy labs. Before treating real-world patients, students and residents gain the skills and confidence to diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions on mannequins and simulators in a clinical setting. This program was completed by visiting the surgical and internal wards and the VIP ward of the hospital.

Copyright © 2023 Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved. Date updated: 02/02/2023
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