Strengthening Faculty Development through Regional and Global Collaboration: An Innovative Virtual Program in Cambodia

Background: Cambodia faces significant shortages of qualified physicians and skilled faculty, posing challenges for both medical training and educational reform. Innovative faculty development initiatives are essential in resource‑limited settings to address these gaps and support broader reforms.

Objectives: We describe a novel virtual faculty development program, created through regional and global collaboration, to enhance medical education in Cambodia.

Methods: We conducted a faculty development program consisting of six virtual workshops between August and September 2023. The program targeted basic science faculty in the pre‑clinical curriculum, introducing integrated teaching, case‑based learning methods, and related assessment strategies. Regional and international collaboration formed the backbone of the initiative, involving expertise from neighboring Vietnam and the United States.

Findings: Although participants were voluntary, and we offered no financial incentives, over 80% of the invited participants attended the sessions. Participants reported high satisfaction with the workshop content and format. Additionally, participants applied the concepts learned, as demonstrated by their creation and use of integrated clinical cases in their teaching.

Conclusions: Medical education is increasingly becoming a focus of global health collaboration. Findings highlight the feasibility and benefits of a partnership‑driven virtual faculty development model. By leveraging regional and international expertise to address local challenges, this initiative contributed to strengthening faculty capacity in resource‑constrained settings.