Professor Zurab Vadachkoria, Rector of TSMU, Professor Zurab Orjonikidze, TSMU Chancellor and Professor Archil Undilashvili, Head of the Department of Physical Rehabilitation Policy and Strategic Management and Director of the US MD program of TSMU, visited Emory University (Atlanta, USA). The aim of the visit was to continue the ongoing memorandum of cooperation between the Emory University School of Medicine and Tbilisi State Medical University. Within the framework of the visit, the TSMU delegation met academic and administrative staff of the Emory University. They met Professor Vikas Sukhatme Dean of the Emory School of Medicine, Associate Dean, Professor Bill Eley, Assistant Dean, Professor Gordon Churchward and Vice Provost of the Emory University Philip Wainwright.
The TSMU delegation presented a detailed report on the developed and ongoing projects as a result of mutual cooperation between the Emory University and Tbilisi State Medical University. Future plans and needs related to the implementation of the planned activities were also discussed. The TSMU delegation emphasized issues related to the increasing number of clinical rotations for the US MD program students of TSMU at the Emory School of Medicine. Based on the above mentioned issues amendments were made in the memorandum of understanding between the universities.
Professor Zurab Vadachkoria, Rector of TSMU, Professor Zurab Orjonikidze, TSMU Chancellor and Professor Archil Undilashvili, Head of the Department of Physical Rehabilitation Policy and Strategic Management and Director of the US MD program of TSMU also met Professor Daniel Dressler, Director of Internal Medicine Teaching Service at Emory University. The professor talked about the valuable role of Emory University professors in the teaching process but also emphasized the important role of senior residents’ involvement in the educational process.
MD Stacy Higgins, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Clinical Services and Mr. Isaiah Kettles, Academic Electives Program Coordinator also met the guests from TSMU and talked about important role of clinical rotations for students. Mr. Isaiah Kettles supervises clinical rotations for the TSMU students at the Emory University School of Medicine.
More than 300 TSMU students and academic staff have already undergone internship at the Emory University School of Medicine departments, university and affiliated clinics. Professors and Heads of the Emory clinics Richard Pare, Todd Williamson, Elliott Gozansky and Anna Pare met the Georgian guests and talked about future cooperation activities and development plans.
The TSMU professors participated in the conference "Learn, Serve, Lead - 2022" organized by the Association of American Medical Colleges in Nashville (State of Tennessee). The conference and exhibition was dedicated to the achievements, innovations and challenges in the field of modern medical education.
On the initiative of the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, Mikheil Chkhenkeli, the TSMU delegation invited the leadership of the Emory University for an official visit in Georgia. On the other hand, the leadership of the Emory University expressed their desire to visit Georgia and in order to strengthen partnership between the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia and the Emory University, the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, Mikheil Chkhenkeli was invited in Atlanta.
