CPSP will encourage all such academic activities to promote the discipline of Medical Journalism

In future too we will support such initiatives and work in close
collaboration with UHS and PAME – Prof. Irshad Waheed

CMJE candidates Internship at Impact Factor Journal offices

KARACHI: Candidates of Certificate in Medical Editing and Journalism (CMJE) were in Karachi for four days’ internship training in Impact Factor Journals to have first-hand information and study their functioning. The concluding session on June 14th was held at the CPSP campus organized by Journal of College of Physicians & Surgeons Pakistan. Prof. Irshad Waheed Secretary CPSP was the chief guest on this occasion. In his speech he stated that CPSP will always encourage all such academic activities to promote the cause of medical journalism in Pakistan. President of CPSP Prof. Shoaib Shafi was pleased when he learnt about this activity and in future too we will continue to support such initiatives and work in close collaboration with University of Health Sciences (UHS) and Pakistan Association of Medical Editors (PAME).

Prof. Nadia Naseem Pro VC UHS who is also focal person for CME Courses at UHS presenting a memento to Prof. Irshad Waheed Secretary CPSP (Chief Guest) on behalf of Prof. Ahsan Waheed Rathore VC UHS during the Concluding Session of Internship Training Course for CMJE Batch-2 participants in the conclusion session held at CPSP Campus on June 14th, 2024. Picture also shows the facilitators of the Course from (L to R) Prof. Anwar Siddiqui, Dr. Fatema Jawaid, Prof. Shaid Pervez, Prof. Jamshed Akhter and Mr. Shaukat Ali Jawaid.

This CMJE course, it may be mentioned here which will later lead to Diploma in Medical Journalism is a joint project of UHS and PAME. Prof. Irshad Waheed further stated that such academic activities also help CPSP in promoting its image and we have supported all such efforts, initiatives in the past and will continue to do so in future as well. Welcoming Prof. Irshad Waheed, Mr. Shaukat Ali Jawaid thanked him for gracing the occasion with his presence. He also thanked the CPSP President and Council as well as administration for all the logistic support, help and facilities for this academic activity. PAME in the past, he recalled had also organized a three day Internaitonal EMMJ5 Medical Journals Conference at CPSP Campus in 2010 which was attended by thirty-four foreign delegates from eighteen countries and we are extremely grateful to CPSP for all this support which will go a long way in promoting the art of medial writing and scientific publishing in Pakistan.

Later Prof. Nadia Naseem Pro Vice Chancellor of University of Health Sciences and Focal Person for CME courses at UHS on behalf of VC UHS Prof. Ahsan Waheed Rathore presented mementoes to Prof. Irshad Waheed for CPSP and also the facilitators of the course which included Prof. Shahid Pervez, Dr. Fatema Jawad, Mr. Shaukat Ali Jawaid and Prof.Anwar Siddiqui. Group leaders of both the groups Prof. Tayyaba Gul and Prof. Ajmal made presentations based on their assessment and observations of their visit to the offices of Journal of Pakistan Medical Association, Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences and Journal of College of Physicians & Surgeons Pakistan. At JPMA offices they were briefed by Dr. Fatema Jawad, Dr. Mubeen, Prof.Anwar Siddiqui and other team members.

CMJE Batch-2 participants photographed with Prof. Jamshed Akhtar, Mr. Shaukat Ali Jawaid and Dr. Masood Jawaid in the offices of PJMS on June 12th 2024.

At Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, they were briefed about the functioning starting from submission to initial screening, Editor’s triage, external peer review, formatting, plagiarism check, page make up, preparing PDF files and corrections before publication. The same procedure was explained to them at the JPMA offices who have outsourced some of these functions while at Pak J Med Sci almost everything except final printing is done within the offices.

Dr. Musarrat Riaz consultant endocrinologist who was appointed Managing Editor of Journal of Pakistan Endocrine Society made a presentation and shared their experience of publishing the first issue and dealt at length on the various steps involved starting from getting the Declaration. Prof. Jamshed Akhtar gave the candidates an exercise to assess and evaluate some journals using the Form used by PM&DC for evaluation and recognition of journals. They were able to identify many of the short comings in some of the journals which are covered in Scopus as well recognized by Higher Education Commission.

At the JCPSP the candidates were briefed and guided by Prof.Shahid Pervez, Ms Shabbana, Prof. Saba Sohail and Prof.Saeeda Baig. They were given files of some reviewed articles and asked to review these manuscripts to compare with the review done by experts. The idea of all these exercises, Prof. Jamshed Akhtar pointed out was to ensure some hands on exercises during the internship. Its marks will not be included in their final assessment but they should make it a part of their portfolio as evidence of their active participation. Candidates at all the three IF journal offices were encouraged to ask questions to clarify anything which they felt was not clear.

Dr. Fatema Jawad was happy that the group was very interested and actively participated in the discussion. They were keen to learn though we usually shy from asking questions. It is very encouraging she remarked. This training will help them to become good authors and better reviewers, she added. Prof. Jamshed Akhtar opined that this evaluation of internship is very helpful. There is always room for improvement.

Prof. Shahid Pervez referred to news reports in the media about the ranking of scientists which he said was all fake and every effort should be made to verify the facts before reporting. Prof. Nadia Naseem pointed out that we have arrangements with Dept. Of Mass Communications at Punjab University and Prof. Hanan and Prof.Noshin in their presentations talk about health journalism, the mass media and electronic media as well to give the participants some idea of how it works and how they can be effectively used. Mr. Shaukat Ali Jawaid referred to how some studies published in Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences were wrongly translated. It is important that those covering health must have some core knowledge of health reporting.

Prof. Tayyaba Gul and Prof. Ajmal on behalf their groups shared their observations of their visit to all the three IF Journal offices. They did point out some similarities, some differences in their working, area where some improvement was needed. JPMA was commended for having a Students Corner and involving undergraduate medical students in training which all other journals should also follow. They also pointed out that all these journals should entertain animal studies as well. At JCPSP they have numerous categories of manuscripts, they have separate journal for case reports. Mr. Shaukat Ali Jawaid remarked that what JCPSP was practicing was ideal and correct but unfortunately the clerks sitting in health departments cannot differentiate between original research and other categories of manuscripts with the results that the authors suffer.

Hence, we try to include papers which are original research in original paper categories just to help the authors. JCPSP also has facilities of data analytics. Prof. Tayyaba Gul suggested that digital editing should be an option. Dr. Asif talked about governance and quality of journals and the role of accrediting bodies. Dr. Khalid emphasized the importance of post publication review. Prof. Ajmal suggested putting up stalls by the journals at conference venues to create awareness and promote journals. Prof.Shahid Pervez said that we must give up ego and arrogance and promote publication ethics.

Earlier in the day Prof. Razaque Sheikh Registrar of College of Physicians & Surgeons Pakistan also attended the meeting for a short while and met the candidates. Welcoming him Mr. Shaukat Ali Jawaid briefed him about the Certificate Course in Medical Editing as well as Advance Certificate Course in Medical Editing which is titled as CMJE. Both the courses are of six months’ duration with two four days’ contact session each. It consists of four tests during the contact sessions, five assignments, portfolio preparation which is then evaluated followed by Viva Examination. In the advance course the second contact session consists of four days’ internship training at Impact Factor Journals in Karachi. CPSP, he said, has always been very supportive of all such activities for which we are extremely grateful.

A two hours trip to Seaside was also arranged by Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences on June 12th for the participants followed by Dinner at a local hotel which was also attended by most of the facilitators and Prof. Nazeer Khan General Secretary PAME. The candidates were also presented gifts on behalf of Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences and JPMA. On the whole it was a very useful activity which the candidates thoroughly enjoyed which will certainly help them in their professional career. Mr. Shaukat Ali Jawaid urged all the candidates to share whatever they have learnt with their colleagues in the wards, unit and their respective institutions and also start practicing it. Don’t accept gift authorship and do not promote this intellectual corruption, he remarked.