This was the first time this session leader has seen preventative medical sciences discussed in a meeting devoted to undergraduate basic medical sciences. The session was attended by fifteen people from various countries including the U.S.A., Mexico, and Romania. The newly elected president of IAMSE also attended, proving the special attention IAMSE gave this particular subject. Professor Bocsan provided an overview of the historical evolution of Epidemiology in medical education, stressing the shift from exclusively teaching Epidemiology of infectious disease to the modern Epidemiology taught in Western medical schools. He stated the organizational important role a Department of Community Medicine and Family Practice could have in strengthening and developing the preventative medicine and specific community-oriented medical education at the undergraduate level. The two U.S. invited speakers - Professor Ponnuswamy Swamidoss, Director, APHA Continuing Education Department, and Dr Gloria Casals - particularly enriched the session by their presentation on the role and place the Public Health concept could play in medical education, respectively the HIV/AIDS entity could represent as case study in medical education. The questions/debates after the three presentations were mainly focused on particular situations or subjects to be included as part of Epidemiology curriculum, the need and possibilities of implementing, strengthening and expanding this specialty as medical basic science. The final conclusion was this subject has to be under a wider debate
during the next IAMSE sessions, as one of the less privileged topic until
now, Epidemiology having a really fundamental importance as concept and
method for practical activities in healthcare and research to be performed
by future doctors as professionals in charge of community health.
|