Regional Associations of Medical Education
Voting members of WFME
AMEEMR: Association for Medical Education in the Eastern Mediterranean
The Association for Medical Education in the Eastern Mediterranean (AMEEMR) aims to advance the highest scientific and ethical standards in medical education and innovative management of medical education focusing in the Eastern Mediterranean region at all levels.
To deliver this objective, the AMEEMR:
- advances communication among and between medical educators in the eastern Mediterranean region
- organises regular conferences and educational events on different aspects of medical education of high importance
- encourages the exchange of teaching, research and evaluation materials developed by teachers and institutions through different outlets including meetings, publications and educational guidelines
- facilitates exchange visits of medical educators and students between member countries
- assists in the evaluation, reporting and dissemination of appropriate and evidence-based procedures, and effective training of students as well as medical educators, through publications, journals, educational guidelines and other outlets
- encourages collaboration with the five other WFME regional organisations and other like-minded international organisations
- undertakes other activities to strengthen medical education in the eastern Mediterranean region.
The AMEEMR has an international journal: Medical and Health Science Education Journal.
Countries represented by AMEEMR to WFME are: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE and Yemen.
AMSA: Association of Medical Schools in Africa
The African Medical Schools Association (AMSA) is a forum for sustaining medical schools and strengthening education, research and health systems in Africa.
AMSA aspires to be the premier organisation to enhance standards and sustainability of medical schools and advance sustainable development and quality of medical education and science for the achievement of a healthy Africa. The goal of AMSA is to improve the standards, value and relevance of medical schools on the African continent through education, research, service and collaboration.
Membership of AMSA is open to representatives of all African Medical Schools, with a special focus on those with an interest in the development, quality, relevance and sustainability of medical schools in Sub-Saharan Africa.
AMSA is committed to:
- Upholding ethical and professional standards
- Promoting evidence-based health care practice and decision-making
- Protecting human rights and dignity
- Maintaining excellence and relevance
- Advancing equity and social responsive
- Ensuring transparency and accountability
- Solidarity
- Volunteerism
The objectives of AMSA cover the fields of education, research, service, collaboration, quality assurance, social accountability and advocacy. Strategic approaches to meet these objectives are through seeking representation at relevant national, regional and global fora on human resource development and medical education; organisation of meetings and conferences on medical education; support of relevant publication; exchanges and reviews of teaching materials, methods, and best practices; promotion of exchange visits; maintenance of communication; and application of agreed standards of accreditation.
AMSE: Association of Medical Schools in Europe
AMSE creates a forum for European Faculties of Medicine to share experiences in the fields of education, research and management. AMSE seeks to stimulate co-operation between Medical Schools in Europe and to initiate and sustain relations with other professional, governmental and non-governmental organisations in education, research and health care.
AMSE is primarily concerned with the leadership and management of medical schools, and the question of how to run the medical school, and how to manage its relationship with the university hospital and other health-care partners. AMSE is also interested in the regulatory, quality assurance, political and economic contexts in which the medical school works to fulfil its mission of medical education and medical research.
AMSE organises regular conferences on topics of particular interest to deans, heads of school and other staff members of Faculties of Medicine.
PAFAMS: The Pan-American Federation of Associations of Medical Schools
PAFAMS is a private, non-profit, international, non governmental organization dedicated to the advancement of medical education and the biomedical sciences in the American Continent, created in 1962 in Viña del Mar, Chile.
The organisation includes 13 National Associations of Medical Schools and individually affiliated medical schools.
The aim of PAFAMS is to improve the quality of medical education and thus improve the outcomes of health services delivery, through a number of programs including experiences to improve medical education and clinical research; the application of the Global Minimum Essential Requirements (GMER), developed jointly with the Institute for International Medical Education (IIME), and major efforts in improving communications with the affiliates.
Our programs include Accreditation of Medical Education (Institutional Accreditation of Basic Medical Education, Postgraduate Medical Education, Continuing Professional Development of (CPD) Medical Doctors), Continuing Professional Development (CPD), Quality, Leadership and Professionalism: Global Doctor, Clinical Research, Information, Technology and Communications.
SEARAME: Southeast Asian Regional Association for Medical Education
The South East Asian Regional Association for Medical Education (SEARAME) is the regional non-governmental organization under the umbrella of the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME), working closely with the World Health Organization – South East Asian Regional Office (WHO-SEARO).
The organisation aims to improve the quality and relevance of medical education in SEAR countries at all levels; undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing professional development.
Collaborations with other regional organizations, and creating or making available information regarding quality accreditation system to member countries, are promoted. Communication among medical educators and medical schools in the region is fostered beyond conferences, journal and publication, and Faculty exchange. SEARAME international conferences are held on a bi-annual basis.
Members of the Association are drawn from the countries in the South-East Asian Region: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste. Other bodies or individuals from countries outside the region may be admitted to at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
WPAME: Western Pacific Association for Medical Education
The Western Pacific Association for Medical Education is the division of WFME concerned with the support and development of medical education in the countries in the Western Pacific Region of WHO.
The Association was established in 1988, and covers the following countries of East Asia and island nations of the South Pacific: Mongolia, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Samoa. The Western Pacific Region is the largest, by both population and area, of the WHO regional divisions.
WPAME works in close conjunction with the Western Pacific Regional Office of WHO, and engages the national organisations responsible for oversight of medical education in countries of the region, or representatives of medical schools where no such organisation exists.
The Association’s main aim is to advance quality medical education in the region. It pursues this goal through regular meetings and workshops involving representatives from member countries, and more recently by offering pilot accreditation or external evaluation assessments of individual medical schools in countries where no national accreditation program is established.
Partner organisations
Voting members of WFME
AMEE: The Association for Medical Education in Europe
The Association for Medical Education in Europe represents the views of medical education in Europe on the WFME Executive Council.
AMEE is a worldwide organisation with members in 90 countries on five continents. Members include educators, researchers, administrators, curriculum developers, assessors and students in medicine and the healthcare professions.
AMEE organises an annual conference and delivers courses on teaching, assessment and research skills for teachers in medicine and the healthcare professions. AMEE produces the journal Medical Teacher, with which WFME is affiliated; a series of education guides; occasional papers; and Best Evidence Medical Education guides.
ECFMG®, a Member of Intealth™
ECFMG is a private nonprofit organization that serves the public by evaluating the qualifications of physicians worldwide. ECFMG evaluates whether international medical graduates (IMGs) are ready to enter U.S. graduate medical education (GME) and offers programs to support IMGs in U.S. training. ECFMG supports the international medical education and regulatory communities by providing primary-source verification of physician credentials. As a member of Intealth, ECFMG contributes its expertise and resources to an integrated effort to address issues critical to the health professions, advance quality in health care education, and improve health care for all.
ECFMG is one of the sponsors of the World Directory of Medical Schools.
IFMSA: International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations
IFMSA: International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations
The International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) founded in 1951, is one of the worlds oldest and largest student-run organizations. It represents, connects and engages every day with medical students from 127 national members organizations in 119 countries around the globe. The IFMSA is officially recognized as a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) within the United Nations and recognized by the World Health Organization as the International Forum for medical students.
The work of the IFMSA is divided into four main global health areas: public health, sexual and reproductive health, medical education, human rights and peace. IFMSA brings people together to exchange, discuss and initiate projects to create a healthier world.
IFMSA and Medical Education
IFMSA’s Standing Committee on Medical Education strives to improve medical education worldwide. In order to achieve this goal members from all national organizations share their experiences and are empowered to train each other, organize projects and advocate for the improvement of their curricula. The outcomes of this work are disseminated through professional partner organizations, and by presenting at conferences and meetings.
IFMSA interns at the WFME office
Since July 2017, the WFME has hosted IFMSA interns on a rolling three-month programme at its Ferney-Voltaire office (France, near Geneva). The internship provides the learning opportunity around how an international organisation works, and provides particular support to developing and maintaining the World Directory for Medical Schools.
JDN: Junior Doctors’ Network of the World Medical Association
The Junior Doctors Network of the World Medical Association aims to empower young physicians to work together towards a healthier world through advocacy, education and international collaboration.
The Network is made up of individual junior doctors, and many are also representatives of their respective National medical Associations. The JDN meets virtually and in person throughout the year, to share information, develop policy and represent junior physicians’ views in health forums particularly the World Medical Association. The JDN currently has working groups on:
- Climate Change and Health
- Antimicrobial Resistance
- Postgraduate medical exchanges
- Ethics surrounding medical care for psychiatric patients
- Global Health Training and its implications
- Doctors’ Health and Wellbeing
The Junior Doctors Network attends WFME Executive Council meetings by invitation, and the President of WFME is invited to JDN meetings.
WHO: World Health Organization
The World Health Organization (WHO) works to to build a better, healthier future for people all over the world. Working through offices in more than 150 countries, WHO staff work side by side with governments and other partners to ensure the highest attainable level of health for all people. The six current leadership priorities are:
- Universal health coverage
- the International Health Regulations
- Increasing access to medical products
- Social, economic and environmental determinants
- noncommunicable diseases
- health-related Sustainable Development Goals
WHO is represented on the WFME Executive Council by its Technical Officer within Human Resources for Health.
WFME is in official relations with the WHO as the organisation representing medical education, as it has been since 1974. This status is a privilege granted by the WHO Executive Board, and reviewed every three years based on a joint work plan of shared objectives, aligned with the 2030 WHO health workforce global strategy on Human Resources for health. Key joint work between the WHO and WFME include:
- In 1988 the Edinburgh declaration was approved at the World Conference on Medical Education, calling for greater co-operation between the health system and the education system, reflecting national needs in medical education and continuing lifelong education of medical staff to achieve quality in practice. The Declaration was adopted by the World Health Assembly in 1989.
- The WHO-WFME Strategic Partnership (2004) set out a joint long-term work plan intended to have a decisive impact on medical education in particular and ultimately on health professions education in general. The press release issued with the partnership agreement sets out the programme of work that was planned, and that continues.
WMA: World Medical Association
The World Medical Association (WMA) is an international organization representing physicians. It has 111 member National Associations of Physicians. The WMA provides a forum for its member associations to communicate freely, to co-operate actively, to achieve consensus on high standards of medical ethics and professional competence, and to promote the professional freedom of physicians worldwide.
The organization was created to ensure the independence of physicians, and to work for the highest possible standards of ethical behaviour and care by physicians, at all times. Funding is by the annual contributions of its members.
The WMA serves humanity by endeavouring to achieve the highest international standards in Medical Education, Medical Science, Medical Art and Medical Ethics, and Health Care for all people in the world.
Partner organisations
Non-members of WFME Executive Council
HCID: Health Care in Danger
Health Care in Danger (HCID) is an initiative of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement aimed at addressing the issue of violence against patients, health workers, facilities and vehicles, and ensuring safe access to and delivery of health care in armed conflict and other emergencies.
WFME supports the project by raising awareness of the Health Care in Danger initiative and promoting the incorporation of the principles of international humanitarian law in medical education curricula.
UNESCO: United National Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
UNESCO is responsible for coordinating international cooperation in education, science, culture and communication. It strengthens the ties between nations and societies, and mobilizes the wider public so that each child and citizen:
- has access to quality education; a basic human right and an indispensable prerequisite for sustainable development;
- may grow and live in a cultural environment rich in diversity and dialogue, where heritage serves as a bridge between generations and peoples;
- can fully benefit from scientific advances;
- and can enjoy full freedom of expression; the basis of democracy, development and human dignity.
UNESCO has worked together with WFME for many years:
- Collaboration was formalised through the “Collective Framework Agreement” between UNESCO and the NGOs participating in the collective consultation of higher education, signed by UNESCO and WFME in 1997.
- As a partner, WFME participated in the UNESCO World Conferences on Higher Education.
- The WFME World Conference on Medical Education “Global Standards in Medical Education for Better Health Care” in 2003 was held in cooperation with UNESCO.
- WFME was a partner in the UNESCO/OECD Initiative on Quality Provision in Cross-border Higher Education (2005).
- UNESCO was a partner of the AVICENNA Directory of Medical Schools, which preceded the World Directory of Medical Schools.
FAIMER®, a Member of Intealth™
FAIMER is a private nonprofit organization that supports the health professions worldwide through educational programs and research activities. FAIMER’s fellowship programs train health professions educators worldwide in skills critical to promoting excellence in health professions education. FAIMER conducts data analyses and research and offers data resources that support global communities of health professions educators, researchers, and policy makers. As a member of Intealth, FAIMER contributes its expertise and resources to an integrated effort to address issues critical to the health professions, advance quality in health care education, and improve health care for all.
WFME and FAIMER collaborate on two key programmes:
Recognition of Accreditation Programme
The WFME Recognition of Accreditation Programme is the process through which WFME evaluates the legal standing, accreditation processes and post-accreditation monitoring of accrediting agencies according to globally accepted criteria. FAIMER helped WFME to develop the policies and procedures for the Recognition Programme, and supported the pilot of the Programme in 2014.
World Directory of Medical Schools
FAIMER and WFME jointly manage the World Directory of Medical Schools. The World Directory was created in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the University of Copenhagen, bringing together FAIMER’s International Medical Education Directory (IMED) and WFME’s Avicenna Directory into a single, comprehensive resource on undergraduate medical education worldwide.
