Workshop on AETCOM held at Aligarh Muslim University

Aligarh: Adept resource persons deliberated competencies for medical students and the implementation of Attitude, Ethics and Communication module (AETCOM) in all medical schools across the country in the online workshop on ‘AETCOM- The Heart and Soul of Medical Education’.

The workshop was a part of the Faculty Development Programme (FDP) series organised by the Medical Education Unit (MEU), Faculty of Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). Over 105 registered participants attended the workshop from various parts of India and abroad.

Speaking on ‘Introduction to AETCOM and foundation of communication in AETCOM’, Dr Shaista Saiyad (Department of Physiology, Smt. N.H.L. Municipal Medical College,Ahmedabad) emphasised how the successful implementation of the AETCOM modules will provide the transition to a competency-based UG Medical education programme as envisaged by the National Medical Commission (NMC).

Dr Vikram Jha (Visiting Faculty, Liverpool University, UK) spoke on ‘How to make AETCOM sessions interesting for students and foundation of Bioethics in AETCOM’.

Prof Rakesh Bhargava (Dean, Faculty of Medicine) elaborated that the new NMC curriculum gives due importance to the crucial aspect of developing the right attitude towards the patients. He was speaking as the patron of the programme.

“There has been worldwide attention to the central role of empathy in Medical education. The manner in which the physician listens to the patient leaves an impression on students, who foster their own quality of empathy by observing the teachers”, said Prof Rakesh.

The Organising Chairperson, Prof Seema Hakim (Coordinator, MEU) pointed out that it is imperative to organise programmes on AETCOM as effective communication is very important as a means to enhance the patient-doctor relationship, besides improving patient satisfaction.”

It is a new and crucial concept of medical education”, emphasised Prof Seema.

Prof Syed Manazir Ali,(Co-Coordinator, MEU and Organising Chairman of the programme) addressed a wide gamut of topics that can be customised to the needs of health professionals.

Organising secretaries of the workshop, Dr Bushra Siddiqui and Dr Sufia Naseem conducted the programme and extended the vote of thanks respectively.