The Arab American University, represented by the Vice President for Medical Faculties Affairs, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Asia, and the Augusta Victoria Hospital - Al-Mutala', represented by the Executive Director Dr. Fadi Al-Atrash, signed a cooperation agreement to train students of the Faculty of Medicine at the university in its two campuses in Jenin and Ramallah.
The signing took place with the presence of the Vice President for Administrative and Financial Affairs, Dr. Eng. Bara Asfour, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Dr. Malik Zaben, the Director of Communication and Public Relations, Ms. Nadine Siam, and from the hospital, the Director of Operations, Ms. Badia Bagali, and the Media and Public Relations Officer, Ms. Izdhar Shaheen.
Prof. Asia said that the signing of this agreement comes from the perspective of promoting university education in various theoretical and practical aspects by adopting the best modern educational methods in the field of human medicine. He added: "The Arab American University continues its efforts to provide the highest level of quality in education and training for students of the Faculty of Medicine and to advance the health sector in Palestine through partnerships and agreements with local and international universities and hospitals."
In turn, Dr. Zaben indicated that the university is preparing a training program for its students in the hospital, and that it will provide training courses for the purposes of professional development through the Continuing Education Center at the University.
For his part, Al-Atrash said that the hospital has obtained JCI accreditation at the level of East Jerusalem and the country, in addition to obtaining the ISO international quality certificate for more than 15 years. Regarding the agreement, he said: “According to the agreement, the hospital will host students of the Faculty of Medicine who are enrolled in the Arab American University in the clinical and pre-clinical stages in all specialized medical departments in the hospital. The hospital departments will be equipped with the necessary materials, consumables, devices and medical equipment to achieve a high level of teaching and clinical training for students”.
On the sidelines of the meeting, representatives of both parties met with a group of medical students at the university campus in Ramallah, where they were briefed on the importance of the agreement and what it would provide for them. Students' questions were also listened to and answers and advice were provided to them.
It is worth noting that Al-Mutalaa Hospital is the first to be accredited by the Joint Commission International for the quality of health services (JCI). It also provides quality services, as it is the only hospital that provides treatment and hemodialysis for children, raises awareness of diabetes through mobile clinics throughout the country. It is also the first and only hospital in Palestine in the field of treating tumors and cancer diseases, including blood diseases. It provides radiotherapy to patients in addition to chemical and biological treatments.