University of Peradeniya University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Sivananthan Laboratories Inc., USA

Building capacity in health professions education

A partnership between the University of Illinois College of Medicine, the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya and Sivananthan Laboratories Inc., USA, supporting educational scholarship in Sri Lanka.

2024 to 2026

Background

The partnership between the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and the University of Peradeniya began in 1974. George Miller, MD, then Head of Medical Education at UIC, visited Sri Lanka to run workshops and train staff to establish the discipline of Medical Education in the country.

Nearly five decades later, with the generous support of Professor emeritus Sivalingam Sivananthan (Sivananthan Laboratories; alumnus of UIC and Peradeniya), UIC leaders visited Sri Lanka on 13–16 October 2024 to re-engage in the collaboration.

  1. George Miller, MD, visits Peradeniya and helps establish Medical Education as a discipline in Sri Lanka.

  2. UIC leaders visit Sri Lanka. A seminar at the University Grants Commission, Colombo, on 14 October is attended by Deans and representatives of the medical faculties, who ask for staff development workshops open to all medical faculties.

  3. A Peradeniya delegation visits UIC: Prof. M.D. Lamawansa (former Vice-Chancellor), Prof. Vasanthi Pinto (former Dean), Prof. Kosala Marambe, Prof. Rajitha Abeyesekera, Prof. Manoji Pathirage, Dr. Sayuri Perera, Dr. Chathurika Dandeniya, Prof. Lalani Yatawara (Dean, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences) and Dr. Mayuresan.

  4. First workshop, Peradeniya.

  5. Second workshop, Peradeniya.

  6. Three online Zoom meetings and webinars discuss ongoing work and possible collaborations.

  7. Prof. Ara Tekian and Prof. Yoon Soo Park are appointed Honorary Visiting Professors by the University Senate.

Staff development workshops

Participant feedback showed a high degree of satisfaction and motivation to adopt good practices in routine work.

Clinical teaching: instruction and assessment

31 March – 2 April 2025

About 60 participants, mainly clinical staff from the Faculties of Medicine and Dental Science in Sri Lanka.

  • Yoon Soo Park, PhD, Ilene Harris Professor and Department Head of Medical Education
  • Ara Tekian, PhD, MHPE, Professor and Associate Dean for International Affairs
  • Memoona Hasnain, PhD, Professor of Family and Community Medicine and Associate Dean, Faculty Development

Scholarship, innovation and integration of AI for educational research

6–8 October 2025

About 70 staff from health sciences, engineering and medical faculties in Sri Lanka.

  • Yoon Soo Park, PhD
  • Ara Tekian, PhD, MHPE
  • Lauren Maggio, PhD, Professor and Director of Research
  • Brian Gin, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medical Education and Pediatrics

Outcomes so far

The collaboration is strengthening human resource development for health professions education and, ultimately, the quality of health care in the country.

What we plan to achieve

Short term

  • Give motivated staff the opportunity to attend the conferences in Chicago on 30–31 July 2026.
  • Share their experiences with the faculty through seminars.
  • Start collaborative projects.

Mid term

  • Strengthen capacity building at faculty level to form a critical mass of experts, especially among mid-career staff.
  • Support about 4–5 staff members to obtain Master's qualifications.
  • Appoint a group of staff associates (health professions educators) to the Department of Medical Education.

Long term

  • Promote research in health professions education, leading to joint publications.
  • Offer split postgraduate training through the faculty or PGIMS.

Needs analysis

A team of academics from the Faculty and the Medical Education Interest Group designed a needs analysis for health professions education training. The Dean of the Faculty of Medicine circulated it among the target populations.

Status: awaiting responses

Responses will shape the training programmes described above.