Saturday, January 2, 2010

FAIMER History

FAIMER History
The idea of establishing a separate foundation developed from
ECFMG’s long-standing commitment to promoting excellence
in international medical education. This commitment began with
ECFMG’s first faculty exchange program in 1983. In the years that
followed, ECFMG increased resources for exchange programs,
introduced consultation services, and considered a number of
research initiatives related to international medical schools and
their graduates. However, ECFMG’s Board of Trustees believed
that more could be accomplished by a separate organization with
dedicated resources focused on the international health professions
community. Discussions began in early 2000, and, in July of that
year, the ECFMG Board of Trustees approved a resolution to
establish an ECFMG foundation.
The Foundation for Advancement of International Medical
Education and Research (FAIMER) was incorporated as a nonprofit
foundation of ECFMG in September 2000, and FAIMER’s Board
of Directors held its first organizational meeting in December
2000. An executive search initiated at the end of 2001 resulted in
recruitment of the Foundation’s first President and Chief Executive
Officer, John J. Norcini, Ph.D., who joined FAIMER in May 2002.
Throughout the period from 2001 through 2003, the membership of
the Foundation’s Board expanded with the election of Directors-at-
Large. By the end of 2003, all positions had been filled, and, in April
2004, the Board held its first meeting with full membership.
Beginning in 2001, FAIMER’s Directors initiated strategic planning
activities to define the Foundation’s focus and priorities. These
planning sessions culminated, in 2004, in the adoption of a formal
strategic plan that identifies the Foundation’s areas of thematic and
geographic focus, as well as short- and long-term goals for each area
of activity. Reorganization of FAIMER’s Board in 2004 and a number of
key staff appointments over the next few years ensured the expertise
and oversight required to support the activities outlined in the plan.
According to FAIMER’s strategic plan, the Foundation will
concentrate its efforts in three thematic areas: creating educational
opportunities for health professions educators, discovering patterns
and disseminating knowledge, and developing data resources.
In developing educational programs, the Foundation attempts to
maximize impact by concentrating efforts in developing regions in
South Asia, Africa, and Latin America. To leverage resources, the
strategic plan also calls for FAIMER to identify and collaborate with
appropriate partners.

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