U of A Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and Sudan work together to train Sudan’s physicians of tomorrow

In a signing ceremony on April 7, the U of A Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (FOMD) renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a service agreement with the Sudan Medical Specialization Board (SMSB), signifying a further commitment to working together for innovative collaborations in the years to come.

Both the Canadian Ambassador to Sudan, Mr. Adrian Norfolk, as well as the Sudanese Ambassador to Canada, Mr. Taring Abusalih, delivered congratulatory remarks. Sudanese Ministers of Cabinet Affairs and Health also attended the signing event.

SMSB is the sole professional training body in the Republic of the Sudan, mandated to manage and deliver medical and health specialty programmers in the country.

“Today, we are pleased to witness the renewal of this important MoU, as well as the signing of our first Service Agreement. This starts a new chapter of our strategic collaboration to train Sudan’s medical professionals of tomorrow” said Dr Cen Huang, U of A’s Vice-Provost & Associate Vice-President (International), during the kick-off of the online signing event.

The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta is highly recognized nationally and internationally for its research innovation and its excellence in academic and training programs. The Faculty is also a leader in internationalization and has built successful partnerships around the world.

In 2015, the U of A FOMD’s Department of Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery, and Transplantation, together with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, embarked on a very successful mission to Sudan, which led to the development of the original MoU. Since that time, partner relations with SMSB have intensified. Working together with SMSB, FOMD has helped to build capacity by training young physicians, such as cardiologists, heart surgeons, and virologists.

“I have no doubt our Young Physicians Training Program will benefit SMSB’s trainees,” said Brenda Hemmelgarn, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, at the online signing event. “It will be an honour to support SMSB’s medical professionals so that they may better serve your communities in the years to come. I am very excited for the day when we can welcome your students, trainees and academic faculty to our campus and share our skills, experience and perspectives with you.”