ACGME International Awardees

Physician Leader

This award honors physicians who lead educational activities and promote values that underpin ACGME-I accreditation. The 2024 recipient is Muhammad Rizwan Khan MBBS, FCPS, FRCS, FACS, MHPE, professor of surgery and associate dean for postgraduate medical education at Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.

Dr. Khan has served as the associate dean for postgraduate education at Aga Khan University since 2017. As the designated institutional official, he has provided dedicated leadership ultimately resulting in five residency programs achieving ACGME-I accreditation, including the first in Pakistan. Dr. Khan is a renowned hepatobiliary surgeon, serving as a full professor of surgery since 2020, and occupies the Kulsum Naurozali Rupsi Endowed Chair at his institution. He is the program director for the surgical oncology fellowship program and has more than 80 publications to his name.  Read the Q and A with Dr. Khan.

Physician Educator

This award honors program directors and faculty members directly involved with teaching residents and fellows and caring for patients. The 2024 recipient is Novera Ghayoor Chughtai MBBS, FCPS, assistant professor and program director for obstetrics and gynecology at Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan.

Dr. Chughtai has served as assistant professor and program director since 2019, balancing her passion for mentoring and teaching with her clinical duties. She has created and implemented a strong competency-based curriculum, as well as developed modules for LGBTQIA+ education and a breast surgery rotation for residents. She also promotes the pursuit of scholarship and research by her residents, especially in collaboration with faculty members. The obstetrics and gynecology residency program at Aga Khan achieved ACGME-I accreditation under her leadership and continues to enhance and internationally standardize education and training in obstetrics and gynecology. Read the Q and A with Dr. Chughtai.

Staff

This award honors administrators and other staff members who have provided extraordinary service to the educational process, to residents or fellows, and to meeting ACGME-I requirements. The 2024 recipient is Zehra Mazhar, the institutional director for graduate medical education (GME) at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) in Doha, Qatar.

Ms. Mazhar has served in her role since 2008, playing a significant role in the accreditation of HMC in 2012 and in the 29 currently-accredited programs – the most in any ACGME-I-accredited Sponsoring Institution. Her tireless work to further develop GME at HMC has resulted in a two-fold increase in resident applicants both from Qatar and internationally. Read the Q and A with Ms. Mazhar.

Physician Leader

This award honors physicians who lead educational activities and promote values that underpin ACGME-I accreditation. The 2023 recipient is Hilal Ali Al Sabti, MD, MSc, FRCSC, Minister of Health, Sultanate of Oman, Former Executive President, Oman Medical Specialty Board (OMSB); Oman.

Dr. Hilal Al Sabti served as the executive president of Oman Medical Specialty Board from 2015 to 2022. He led the development of 19 residency programs, 16 of which are ACGME-I-accredited, and six local fellowship programs coordinating with Oman’s Ministry of Health to assess the health care needs of the country. His proficient leadership has directed OMSB to successfully achieve various significant milestones for the advancement of GME in Oman. Dr. Al Sabti is a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital in Oman. Recently, he was appointed as the Minister of Health in the Sultanate of Oman.

Physician Educator

This award honors program directors and faculty members directly involved with teaching residents and fellows and caring for patients. The 2023 recipient is Kang Sim, MBBS, MMed (Psychiatry), MS-HPEd, FAMS, Programme Director, National Healthcare Group (NHG) Psychiatry Residency Programme; Singapore.

Dr. Kang Sim has mentored and trained psychiatrists with the utmost professionalism, compassion, and empathy. He has created a well-sought-after residency program in Singapore, in which residents have autonomy and support with a focus on competency-based education and training, evidence-based medicine, and patient-centered care. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Dr. Sim swiftly took action to ensure residents were able to meet their learning objectives, and worked hard to ensure resident wellness at the same time.

Staff

This award honors staff members who have provided extraordinary service to the educational process, to the residents or fellows, and to meeting the ACGME-I Requirements. The 2023 recipient is Fatima Msheik El Khoury, PhD, MBA, C-TAGME, Senior GME Program Coordinator, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center; Lebanon.

Dr. Msheik El Khoury has been an invaluable member of the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at the American University of Beirut Medical Center in Lebanon since 2015. She continually goes above and beyond to implement new projects benefitting the residency program, and seamlessly handles the operations of the program. Dr. Msheik El Khoury completed her PhD in health services while maintaining her role and dedication to GME.

Physician Leader

Dr. Hatem Faraj Al Ameri is the manager of the Department of Healthcare Workforce Monitoring at the Department of Health with more than 25 years of experience in clinical and academic medicine, as well as health care regulation and policies. Through his current position at the Department of Health, he plays an integral role in setting the Abu Dhabi medical education agenda that aims to make Abu Dhabi the best practice model in academic medicine and a destination for learners, educators, and medical education researchers.

He founded the program Tanseeq in 2010, the first national application and matching system for post-graduate medical education (PGME) that attracts more than 1,000 applicants per year. Under his management, Abu Dhabi became the first regional and the second global to receive ACGME-I accreditation for its residency programs. As a board member in several national medical education and workforce planning committees, Dr. Alameri led the transformation of health professional licensing, health care practice legislation, and established the medical education funding schemes.

Dr. Al Ameri completed his pulmonary medicine fellowship and internal medicine residency from McGill University in Canada in 2002 and 2000, respectively. He has received several academic awards including Best Chief Resident in 2000, Teacher of the Year from King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2007, and The Gold Stevie Award Most Valuable Service During COVID-19 in 2021. He has authored multiple publications in the field of both clinical medicines and medical education.

Physician Educator

Dr. Sterman Toussaint held the position of designated institutional official (DIO) and professor of surgery at Zanmi Lasante in Haiti until 2021. He joined Zanmi Lasante in 2021 as a surgeon, and his clinical skills, commitment, and leadership capacity guided his career through positions including clinical surgery coordinator and his current position of DIO, all while teaching surgery at the General Hospital, the largest public hospital in and at the Mirebalais University Hospital. Since joining the health care team in 2010, Dr. Toussaint has shown great intelligence, openness, and the admirable ability to adapt to serving the unique environment of remote regions of Haiti. His commitment to medical education as well as his teaching skills have made Zanmi Lasante’s education program the most prestigious in Haiti. Additionally, he has brought about an enormous contribution to build the education and research programs at the Mirebalais Teaching Hospital and provided valuable support to the residency programs. Dr. Toussaint, who is regarded as one of the best surgeons in Haiti, is also beloved by all—he is beloved as an attending, a teacher, and a mentor. He is a dynamic, lively, patient, and disciplined individual who always wants the best quality of education and training for the residents at the hospital. This, when paired with his success in medical education, makes Dr. Sterman Toussaint one of the most respected medical educators in all of Haiti.

Physician Leader

Dr. Faith Chia is the designated institutional official (DIO) for the National Healthcare Group Residency, Singapore; she was appointed in July 2018. Previously, she was the programme director for the NHG Residency’s internal medicine programme, devoting years of service to medical education. Dr. Chia pioneered the “Medicine in Community” elective program, the first residency elective to be approved by the Singapore Specialist Accreditation Board, providing residents with requisite skills to serve patients in the community and the opportunity to appreciate the continuity and transition of care from a hospital. Additionally, Dr. Chia was the leader of the anaesthesiology and ophthalmology residency programs in October 2018 and February 2019, respectively, to pilot the Self-Study process. Dr. Chia is a strong, collaborative, professional, compassionate leader who goes the extra mile to bring together the hospital and residents. She earned a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery

Physician Educator

Dr. Llewellyn Lee was appointed the program director of National Healthcare Group (NHG) Residency, Singapore in 2010 and was charged with redesigning the residency program at NHG to be ACGME-I-accreditation ready. Dr. Lee’s passion and proficiency in medical education helps him maintain strong ties with faculty members and other stakeholders, within and beyond the institution. His program has consistently been recognized as one of the best in quality of curriculum and leadership. Additionally, Dr. Lee was also the first program director in Singapore to conduct the Next Accreditation System’s Self-Study and received outstanding feedback from all participants. His colleagues recognize him as being unafraid to be a dissenting voice and provide insightful comments in a supportive and constructive way. He is beloved by residents and graduates and is a true role model in both clinical and humanistic skills. Dr. Lee serves as a mentor, educator and sought-after clinician and speaker worldwide. He earned a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the National University of Singapore; a Diploma of Membership from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, specializing in ophthalmology; and a Master of Medicine from the National University of Singapore, also specializing in ophthalmology.

Staff

Rania Jaber is the graduate medical education coordinator/manager for American University of Beirut (AUB). She joined AUB in 2005, when she was first chosen to be the internal medicine residency coordinator. Over the years, Ms. Jaber became an expert in understanding and actualizing ACGME and ACGME-I requirements. Her intelligence, hard work, and gentle demeanor were vital in convincing faculty members and administrators to advocate for implementing ACGME Requirements, even before ACGME International accreditation was available. Following the American University of Beirut Medical Center’s efforts to apply for institutional accreditation, it was clear Ms. Jaber should lead the administrative team to achieve that goal. She has trained numerous program administrators, taught program directors, and has become a true leader on the required skills, attitudes and implementation on the required standards. Ms. Jaber has earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in public health from the American University of Beirut.

Physician Leader

Dr. Shirley Ooi has been the designated institutional official (DIO) for the National University Health System (NUHS) in Singapore since its inception in 2009. Dr. Ooi has had an impressive career, in which she has become known as a leader in the transformation of graduate medical education. She is also a highly sought-after speaker, as well as a highly praised author. Her textbook is widely used by students and residents in emergency medicine. Shirley has been described as an outstanding clinician, colleague, teacher, mentor, and leader who is a strong believer in change. She has a passion for education and a true desire to share knowledge in order to provide for the next generation of health care leaders.

Physician Educator

Dr. Al Abri was appointed director of the Oman Medical Specialty Board (OMSB) in 2009. He has been instrumental in the development of the OMSB Emergency Medicine Education Committee. As director of the OMSB Medical Simulation Center, Dr. Al Abri was actively involved in planning, establishing, and advancing the center. Dr. Al Abri’s contribution to graduate medical education in Oman and his vision are commendable, and he is highly respected by the emergency medicine community. His continuous desire to develop specialty related simulation trainings is admirable, and his continuous desire to develop specialty-related simulation trainings is highly appreciated by both medical educators and residents.

Staff

Ms. Kellie Kiernan is the institute coordinator for Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) in Abu Dhabi. She joined the Pediatric Institute in 2006 and was tasked with launching and developing the pediatric residency program, where she was responsible for developing a rotation scheduling system, program manuals, and an evaluation system. Ms. Kiernan also assisted in coordinating the centralization and transformation of education at SKMC. She brought with her a familiarity with US residency program systems, and the documentation/regulatory skills and knowledge she gained while working in the US. Her unique familiarity with this information as well as her knowledge of almost all Royal College Systems has been monumental in improving and providing structure to SKMC programs.

Physician

Kamal Badr, MD, PhD, serves as the current Associate Dean for Education at the American University of Beirut, Dr. Badr has had an impressive career as an internationally renowned nephrologist underscored by his deep commitment to education. Dr. Badr brought to fruition his dream of establishing international standards for graduate medical education in Lebanon as defined by participation in ACGME International accreditation.

Staff

A native of the Philippines, Ms. Rosemarie Rodanilla serves the Oman Medical Specialty Boards in an exemplary fashion. As the country’s GME adopted the ACGME-I accreditation path, her role as OMSB’s institutional coordinator was instrumental in the institution’s and its programs’ successful applications. Ms. Rodanilla has been the recipient of OMSB’s outstanding employee award on multiple occasions.

Physician

Dr. Abdullatif Alkhal serves as the designated institutional official of the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). An internist with specialization in infectious disease, Dr. Alkhal was instrumental in bringing ACGME-I accreditation to Qatar. Having held numerous national and regional posts serving medicine, his devotion to high quality education and quality improvement has underpinned virtually all of his extracurricular activities. Dr. Alkhal was one of the first international physicians to serve on the Review Committee-International.

Congratulations to Dr. Alkhal!

Staff

Ms. Jillian Ang Andrada is the Institutional Coordinator for GME Activities at SingHealth in Singapore. As such, over 1000 residents and 34 residency programs benefit from her dedication and commitment to GME dating back to the inception of ACGME-I accreditation in 2009. She has also been instrumental in the first implementation of the Next Accreditation System-International. Ms. Andrada has received awards from her country for initiating projects that assist new staff hired to support residency education efforts.

Congratulations to Ms. Andrada!