The Department of Family and Community Medicine at Alfaisal University (AU-DFCM) proudly hosted the 13th Annual Health Promotion Project (HPP) Exhibition at the College of Medicine, reaffirming its commitment to experiential learning, community engagement, and future-oriented medical education.
This year’s theme, “Back to the Future – A Healthier Saudi 2040,” challenged first-year medical students enrolled in COM116 to critically examine today’s health gaps and imagine realistic, evidence-informed solutions from the perspective of the year 2040. The exhibition encouraged students to move beyond conventional models of care and consider how evolving tools, roles, policies, and primary care systems can collectively shape a healthier society in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.
More than 50 interactive student-led booths were presented across five broad domains: Tools and Technologies of the Future, Roles and Careers of the Future, Policy and System Innovations, Primary Care and the 5Cs, and Social and Environmental Determinants of Health. Each booth was designed around a clear framework, identifying a current public health challenge/gap, articulating a future “wish” for community health, and proposing an innovative solution capable of fulfilling that wish by 2040.
The exhibition reflected the department’s sustained emphasis on applied, inquiry-based learning. Under the leadership of Dr. Baraa Alghalyini, Vice Dean and Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine, with extensive academic mentorship by Dr. Abdul Rehman Zia Zaidi and coordination by Dr. Racha Khaled, students completed a structured, research-driven process that integrated literature review, systems thinking, teamwork, and public communication. This work was supported by teaching assistants and administrative teams who ensured smooth academic and logistical execution.
Student projects addressed diverse and timely topics, including digital health transformation, artificial intelligence in care delivery, access to primary care, future healthcare workforce models, environmental health, urban design, mental health integration, preventive medicine, and health equity. Through creative visuals, interactive elements, short pitches, and evidence-based messaging, students translated complex public health concepts into accessible learning experiences for a wide audience.
The exhibition welcomed faculty members, students, healthcare professionals, and visitors from across the university community, creating an active space for dialogue and exchange. A panel of distinguished judges evaluated the booths using a structured rubric that
assessed relevance, innovation, evidence base, teamwork, and engagement. Judges commended the students for their clarity of thought, depth of research, and ability to connect futuristic ideas with real-world public health needs in Saudi Arabia.
The Department of Family and Community Medicine extends its sincere appreciation to all faculty members, staff, teaching assistants, judges, volunteers, and institutional partners whose collaboration contributed to the success of the 13th Annual HPP Exhibition. Their collective efforts ensured a high-quality academic experience for students and reinforced the exhibition’s role as a flagship educational initiative within the College of Medicine.
Through initiatives such as the Health Promotion Project, Alfaisal University continues to prepare future physicians with the insight, skills, and sense of responsibility needed to improve population health, locally, nationally, and globally, while empowering students to imagine and help build a healthier Saudi Arabia for generations to come.
