A novel interdisciplinary health professions education program at King Saud University: strategy and structure (Phase I)

Background: Interdisciplinary health education is one of the recommended strategies to improve health care systems as they become more complex, costly, and rely on care delivered by teams.

 

Objective: To improve health sciences education programs and their products through collaborative interdisciplinary co-education.

 

Methods: Based on student surveys, SWOT analysis, internal and external program accreditation reviews, and other evaluation initiatives for graduate health education programs, the need to improve health education became apparent in all health sciences colleges. The leadership group was involved in six faculty development exercises, three workshops were conducted in Riyadh, and they attended a total of three courses in Boston at the Harvard Macy Institute focusing on various aspects of the project as an agreement with Partners Harvard Medical International (PHMI).

 

Results: A strategic plan was developed. In addition, a governance structure of an inter-professional health education centre was designed in a way that encompasses all levels. The leadership group is responsible for the implementation of various functions of the centre that include advisory and content development, resources management, training, assessment and evaluation in a phased approach.

 

Conclusion: The proposed centre is an innovative approach to improve and foster interdisciplinary education across all health sciences colleges (HSCs) at King Saud University (KSU) developed with the involvement of all stakeholders, supported by outside facilitation and structured programs and exercises. The University will move quickly to implement the strategic plan and centre using a phased approach.