The second face-to-face meeting was held as part of the FOR21 project "FOstering the doctor of the 21st century: education for patient-centered communication" on February 1-3, 2023 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Representatives of almost all partner universities took part in the meeting: Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, in particular, the project coordinator Professor Panos Bamidis, Leeds University, Karaganda Medical University, Kazakh National Medical University named after Asfendiyarov, Tashkent Medical Academy, Samarkand State Medical University. Karaganda Medical University was presented by the Project coordinator Polina Semenikhina and tutor, assistant of the Department of General Medical Practice, actively involved in the creation of materials and the implementation of the goals of the Project Symbat Khalmuradova.

One of the most important topics of the meeting was the discussion of the progress of the Project and summing up the intermediate results. All partners presented their methods of implementing the cases developed within the framework of the project, representatives of KazNMU demonstrated the methodological recommendations developed by them in three languages. Zarrina Babamuradova, director of the Center for the Development of Communicative Competencies of the Samarkand State Medical University, together with Ella Poulton, representing the University of Leeds, held an open lesson with 4th year students, during which they demonstrated the methods of working with virtual patients developed as part of the FOR21 project.

Other discussions touched upon the issues of reviewing the created cases, their further adaptation and modification in response to feedback from students and tutors of all partner universities, the development of a script for the OSCE station for the final exam, and the creation of assessment sheets that could be used for both virtual and for standardized patients within the project.

The meeting took place in a warm working atmosphere and allowed the project partners to meet face to face for a closer acquaintance for a second time.

Author: Polina Semenikhina