LAHORE: The University of Health Sciences (UHS) hosted a workshop titled “Integrating Behavioral Sciences in Healthcare and Medical Education,” on Monday, drawing the faculty from its affiliated colleges, with some participants joining online. The event aimed to address critical issues in the teaching and assessment of behavioral sciences. Noted professionals, including Prof. Mowadat Rana and Prof. Mujtaba, delivered keynote speeches, while Dr. Saqib Rabbani facilitated the sessions. Contributing their expertise were Prof. Dr. Usman Hotiana, Prof. Dr. Altaf Qadir, and Prof. Dr. Ali Madeh Hashmi.
Group photograph of participants of the workshop hosted by University of Health Sciences (UHS) on “Integrating Behavioral Sciences in Healthcare and Medical Education,” held recently.
In his address to the participants, UHS Vice Chancellor Professor Ahsan Waheed Rathore emphasized the importance of clearly defining the role of behavioral scientists in healthcare and highlighting the curriculum areas that should be covered by psychiatrists versus behavioral scientists. He offered support for the training and certification of these professionals. Professor Rathore also questioned the participants about the effectiveness of those teaching behavioral sciences to doctors if they are frequently on strike.
Participants engaged in meaningful discussions on current challenges and future directions for behavioral sciences education. The faculty collaboratively developed strategic plans and innovative solutions to enhance teaching and assessment methods in this vital field. Key outcomes of the workshop included a commitment to training trainers for UHS’s newly developed integrated curriculum, aiming to equip educators with essential skills and knowledge.
The workshop also emphasized the need to train assessors before conducting centralized exams and proposed revising the exam structure to better align with the integrated curriculum. Additionally, the faculty underscored the importance of holding monthly meetings to monitor progress and address challenges, fostering continuous improvement for behavioral sciences teaching staff. Finally, a decision was made to establish a yearly calendar for events and workshops related to behavioral sciences, ensuring effective planning and execution of educational activities. (PR)
