Media Release
Ajman, May 22: Gulf Medical University (GMU), recently held a special ceremony to award certificates to faculty members who have completed their graduate diploma in health professions education program conducted during 2011, here.
The fourth batch of graduates comprised of nine faculty members attached to the different colleges of the university and clinical faculty serving at the Gulf Medical College Hospital and Research Centre.
Additionally, nine adult students who have completed the certificate course in medical insurance billing were awardees of certificates of completion at the event.
The graduate diploma in health professions education program of GMU aims to cater to the needs of faculty members who wish to develop their own skills as teachers and researchers in health professions education, and to assist their colleagues to enhance their competencies in performing the various roles they are called upon to play as educators.
The certificate course in medical insurance billing is a short term course (90 hours) and has been designed especially for adult learners who wish to engage in further education in mind. While some of the students who register in the programs offered by the centre for continuing education and community outreach are already employed, the others may have interrupted their education due to various factors. For those students wishing to further their education in the medical field, this program provides a firm foundation. Students receive instruction in medical office insurance billing procedures, including patient financial records, computerized billing, CPT-4 and ICD-9 coding, collection procedures, identifying and billing various insurance plans (group, PPO, HMO, IPA, federal, state and workers' compensation)
Welcoming the chief guest, professor Gita Ashok Raj, provost, GMU and professor Raja C Bandaranayake, guest of honour, and the invitees to the event, Dr Gamini Premadasa, co-chairperson of the medical education unit, GMU emphasized that the university considered enhancing the teaching skills of its faculty members as an area of high significance. He added that the opportunities offered by the center for continuing education and community outreach provided a valuable opportunity to a variety of adult learners to re-engage in formal educational programs.
While awarding the certificates to the faculty members and the graduates for the successful completion of graduate diploma in health professions education program, professor. Gita Ashok Raj, provost, GMU, in her address referred to the faculty development activities that GMU has been involved in. She added that with the present group of graduates, the number of faculty members who had completed the graduate diploma program had risen to 32. She pointed out that a large number of faculty members had submitted their applications for enrolment in the 2012 program that was running at present but that only some could be accommodated.
Addressing the gathering, which included the academic leadership of the university and past and current students of the graduate diploma in health professions education program and the certificate awardees of the course in medical insurance billing, professor Bandaranayake recalled his involvement in the graduate diploma program. He recounted his contacts with his students, and hoped that the competencies that the certificate awardees had gained through the respective courses would stand them in good stead in performing their duties and in progress through their careers.
Dr Lisha Jenny John spoke on behalf of the 2011 fourth batch of the graduate diploma program and Dr Madhura Srikant presented the views of the students of the certificate course in medical insurance billing.
Dr Madhura Srikant the highest scorer with 92% in the final examination expressed her gratitude towards GMU and its teaching staff for offering the course. “Students were very happy to attend the part time classes due to its structure and timing so as to not disturb their other personal as well as professional commitments. All the students are working professionals in various health and allied health care organizations. The course will enhance their knowledge so as to upgrade their skills and expertise at their work site towards scaling new heights in their career”, she added.