On May 13, 2025, Dr. Baraa Alghalyini and Dr. Abdul Rehman Zia Zaidi, faculty members from the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Alfaisal University, proudly represented the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the Department of Family & Community Medicine (DFCM) Annual Conference hosted by the University of Toronto.
The conference, themed “Bringing Health Home: Elevating Care in Our Communities,” is recognized as one of Canada’s leading academic gatherings for primary care education and research, bringing together educators, clinicians, and innovators to explore the pivotal role of Family Medicine in shaping the future of healthcare.
Dr. Baraa and Dr. Zaidi delivered a presentation titled: “A Curriculum to Stimulate Medical Students’ Interest in Community Practice Careers.” showcasing the design, implementation, and early outcomes of an innovative four-week Community Medicine block embedded within Alfaisal Univeristy’s MBBS program. The block introduces third-year medical students to immersive, community-based clinical experiences – including Primary Healthcare Center (PHC) and ER field visits/shadowing, simulation labs, problem-based learning (PBL) sessions, and exposure to sustainability, digital health, and patient safety themes.
The initiative was designed to address a well-documented barrier in medical education: the decline in interest among students toward primary care and public health careers. By providing early, structured, and locally relevant exposure to real-world community care settings, the block aims to reframe how students perceive Family Medicine and Public Health. The project was co-developed by a multidisciplinary academic team including Dr. Racha Khaled, Dr. Mohamed Ameen Alswes, and Professor Helen P. Batty.
Reflecting on the presentation, Dr. Alghalyini said: “Our aim is to build authentic, values-driven learning environments that allow students to appreciate the societal impact of Family Medicine. Sharing this initiative with colleagues in Toronto has opened the door for potential international collaboration.”
This initiative aligns with Alfaisal University’s strategic goals of advancing healthcare education and research. By engaging in meaningful dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaboration, our faculty and programs continue to expand the frontiers of medical education and explore innovative practices that address the evolving needs of healthcare in our communities.
