From August 5, 2018, representatives of the US MD Programme of Tbilisi State Medical University Eka Ekaladze Director of US MD Programme, Nino Tevzadze Deputy Director and Nino Zardiashvili, Specialist were on working visit to the Emory University School of Medicine (Atlanta, USA). The visit was aiming at promoting implementation of the US MD Programme, assessing current situation and planning further development as well as preparation for a new academic year "White Coating Ceremony" and planning a farewell Ceremony for the programme graduates with participation of the representatives from the Emory University School of Medicine. During the meetings, the special focus was made on the "Clinical Years" of the programme.

Within the frame of the visit, in order to get acquainted with different fields of study process TSMU representatives arranged several important meetings with:

- Gordon Churchward, PhD, Assistant Dean for Medical education and Student Affairs, Emory University School of Medicine

- Mary Jo Lechowicz - Professor and Vice-Chair for Education, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine (USA),   "Becoming Doctor" course instructor, Director of research module;

- Lisa Bernstein MD, - Associate Professor of Medicine, Course Director Becoming a Doctor, Emory University School of Medicine

- Gina Shannon - Assistant Director, Educational Specialist, Department of Clinical Skills, Emory University School of Medicine

- Jennifer Goedken, MD - Associate Professor, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, General Ob/Gyn, Director of Medical Student Clerkship, Emory University School of Medicine

- Alexander P. Isakov, MD, MPH -Professor of Emergency Medicine, Director of Section of Prehospital & Disaster Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine.

- Bryan Francis McNally, MD, MPH-Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine

- Catherine Kiefer - Assistant Director of Medical Education Programs and Assessment, Emory University School of Medicine

- Kenneth H. Moberg, PhD - Associate Professor of Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine

- Victor Faundez, MD, PhD - Professor of Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine

- Ziad N. Kazzi, MD- Associate Professor Emergency Medicine, Director of International Postdoctoral Fellowship in Medical Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine. Emory University School of Medicine.

These meetings served to better understanding the specificity of Curriculum of Emory University School of Medicine. For this purpose, TSMU representatives attended several lectures and practical trainings. The meeting with Prof. Gordon Churchward and Prof. Mary Jo Lechowicz was focused on the issues related to the US MD programme.  Special emphasis was laid on the ways of selection of students’ contingent, recruitment  of competent staff to the  administrative group of the Programme, the ways ways to solve the difficulties associated ways to solve the difficulties associated with “American style” of study in Clinical Years and the importance of the course - "Becoming Doctors". As this course makes the programme special, collaboration in this regard with American colleagues was planned. The academic staff of the course will have direct contact with them.  Representatives of US MD Programme also attended the event dedicated to the memory of Professor Kennett Walker, organized by Emory University with active participation of Georgian side. The evening was attended by Prof. Vikas P. Sukhatme, MD, ScD, Dean of Emory University School of Medicin. During the meeting the representatives of the US MD Programme met with Georgian doctors working in Atlanta. Natia Esiashvili and Ketevan Kobaidze expressed their support and promised to develop close relationship with the students of the US MD Programme of Tbilisi State Medical University.