Establishing community-orientated medical schools: key issues and steps in early planning

Abstract

Objectives: To describe briefly the process of early planning and establishment of community-based medical schools with highlights of the key issues and milestones.

Design: After outlining some basic concerns and provisos for the Dean and suggested strategies for setting the stage (preparing the ground) for the innovation, three phases of early planning and action steps within each are listed to serve as a guide and a general checklist.

Setting: University of Gezira, Sudan and UAE University, AL-Ain.

Conclusion: As the curriculum with its implications constitutes the driving force for establishing the schools, it has been given due emphasis and greater share in planning. The communication is concluded with further advice to founding Deans through the proposition of a five-star Dean.