Identifying Top Talents in Medical Pharmacology: A Novel Idea of Holding National Competitions Among the Students of Medical Sciences



Mouodi S¹ ; Moghadamnia AA² ; Rezaei Majd AM³ ; Fallah M⁴ ; Hossein Asghari M² Show Affiliations
Source: Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences Published:2024

Abstract

Background and purpose: Pharmacology is one of the core courses in the curriculum of medical sciences, and its instruction during the early stages of medical education equips students with the knowledge to use drugs effectively in clinical practice. Given that teaching and learning pharmacology are among the more challenging aspects of educational planning, this study aimed to introduce a novel idea to identify top talent in the field of medical pharmacology, stimulate scientific activity and motivation among medical students, and enhance their understanding of pharmacological concepts. Materials and methods: The study population consisted of medical sciences students (including medical, dental, and pharmacy students before entering the clinical stage, and for other fields of medical sciences, participants at any educational stage after completing the pharmacology course). The date and method for holding the competition were announced to various student groups through multiple channels, over a four-month period, starting in October 2022. The first phase of the program was implemented at Babol University of Medical Sciences, and in order to generalize and expand it as a nationwide competition, it was proposed at three levels: university, regional, and national. Results: Similar to the current National Olympiads for medical sciences students, which serve as effective tools for identifying top talent in various medical fields, the implementation of national competitions in medical pharmacology can be considered one of the policy options to encourage and motivate students to better engage with this important field of medicine. Conclusion: Policy Recommendations and Implementation Strategies: 1. National policy-making and selecting a university of medical sciences to manage, organize and execute the national competition, 2. Estimating the required budget and allocating the necessary funds accordingly, 3. Appointing scientific and executive committee members at the executing university, 4. Designing competition questions, 5. Executing the competition, 6. Evaluating the program's implementation. © 2024, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.