Department of Military Medicine
Armed Forces Academy of Medical Sciences
Background
There are 163 Medical students on ANA or ANP scholarships presently
attending civilian medical schools. The majority of students from each
service attend Kabul Medical University. Kabul Medical University
supports the concept of a Department of Military Medicine on the KMU
campus, and has designated sufficient space, with internet access, for this
purpose.
The Department of Military Medicine will provide vital military unique
training not available in civilian medical schools. Military unique training
for Afghan National Army (ANA), and Afghan National Police (ANP)
medical students is needed in order to assure that all military medical
officers possess, in additional to clinical skills; institutional knowledge,
operational capability, and resources for self-development. The current
academic institutional programs do not significantly contribute to the
professional growth of Medical Corps Officers. Furthermore, due to the
limited numbers of Medical Corps Officers assigned to operational billets,
the present operational educational programs are of limited value. As for
self-development, physicians tend to focus mostly on clinical skills and not
leadership skills. A concerted effort is needed to ensure that medical
students are developing the leadership skills necessary to produce quality
leaders in the ANA and ANP Medical Corps.
A Department of Military Medicine will also provide precise monitoring
and mentoring of professional and academic progression, assuring the
highest quality of future military medical professionals.
Resources Needed for Implementation
A. Personnel
1. A Department of Military Medicine Secretary:
This position will require a full time person skilled in computers, and
clerical skills necessary for maintenance of records and document
preparation.
2. Faculty for Military Workshops:
Four military medical officers will be needed to assist in the
preparation and implementation of military workshops and lectures.
These officers would be required to devote at least one month a year to
the initiative.
B. Equipment:
1. The Department of Military Medicine will require two desk top
computers and one laptop computer. It will also require a color printer,
and a projector.
2. Resources for mass reproduction of syllabi and other documents will
be required.
3. The office will need two desks with chairs, a conference table and
chairs, five filing cabinets and a securable wall locker.
4. The office will also need adequate book shelves to house a small
library for reference material to be used by the faculty and students as
needed.
C. Operational Medicine Courses at KMU:
Two courses of 26 lectures each will require AFAMS faculty to present
these lectures to the classes at KMU during the regular semesters starting in
March 2013.
D. Workshops:
1. Appropriate space for workshops will be supplied by the National
Military Hospital
2. Transportation and field equipment will be made available for field
exercises.
E. Training:
The Chief of the Department of Military Medicine and all faculty will
be required to attend at least two weeks of faculty development
training prior to the implementation of curricula. This training will
be designed to teach the faculty state of the art principles of learning ,
curriculum development, and mentoring techniques. The faculty will
also be trained in the design and implementation of scientifically valid
research and other scholarly activities, consistent with their role as
academicians.
Respectfully Submitted,
Maj Skekeb
Director of Military Medical Education
Afghan National Army
Gary Davis MD
DynCorp
Medical Mentor