Where are we now?

1. We are running the basic science courses for the two batches of students and planning for running the clinical phase of their training which starts from December 2003 or January 2004.
2. We are also building up our faculty strength both in terms of numbers and their competence in their respective discipline as well as in medical education in general.
3. In addition, we are also continuously expanding our educational resource base such as library, learning resource center, etc.
4. We have a series of daunting challenges before us. However, we are trying our best to hold the fort and help accomplish the KUMS goals.
5. In this process, we have been learning from our experiences and mistakes and marching ahead with team spirit.

Where do we want to be in 3 months - short term?

1. We wish to finalize our plans and organize the necessary resources (human and financial) and logistics for implementing the clinical clerkship programs for our students.
2. We intend to intensify our efforts to empower our current and future faculty to become effective teachers. Such empowerment process would include, but not be limited to, exposing them to short term relevant trainings in medical education.
3. We want to initiate the admission process for the third batch of our students. In this process we wish to select the bright and conscientious students who show the potential to evolve as excellent human beings and caring / able physicians.
4. We want to get our act together and invite our national regulatory body to visit our medical school and get the needed accreditation.
5. We wish to win the support of ANMF in our attempt to improve the teaching and managerial skills of our core faculty / leadership at KUMS.

Where do we want to be in 12 months - intermediate term?

1. We need to secure necessary funding to start construction work for KUMS and / or University Teaching Hospital building.
2. We need to have a robust jeep (Toyota Prado or Pajero) for the purpose of supporting the academic activities (related to Community Health Sciences) that takes place in the rural communities (where the roads are very rough and / or no public transportation available). These activities, we believe, are absolutely critical to help KUMS students appreciate the public health problems of our country and thereby help generate a commitment to serve at least 2 years of their professional lives in the remote rural areas.
3. We intend to develop a strong department of Medical Education within KUMS that will plan the curriculum, promote faculty development, organize trainings for the internal / external faculty and undertake student assessment.
4. We also intend to explore and extend our networks and international collaboration with regard to consolidating KUMS teaching (and research) programs.

What do we need to advocate?

1. That KUMS is making definite progress in the area of medical education
2. KUMS is desperately in need of help / support for its infrastructural / faculty (human resources) and educational development.
3. That KUMS deserves support from ANMF, especially in its early stage of development and such support needs to be directed towards infrastructural / faculty (human resources) and educational development in KUMS.
4. Arrange / sponsor one KUMS representative to present its concerns and perspective to the annual ANMF meeting.

Kathmandu University Medical School
PO Box 21833
New Baneshwar
Kathmandu, Nepal
0977 1164407 Voice
0977 1164406 Fax

Contact: Arjun Karki, MD, KUMSwlink.com.np

June 16, 2003