Ben van Heerden’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Selected as International Collaborating Centre for the Best Evidence Medical Education (BEME) Collaboration

Ben van Heerden, M.B.Ch.B., M.Sc., M.Med.
Professor and Director, Centre for Health Professions Education
Stellenbosch University
Tygerberg, South Africa

Congratulations to Ben van Heerden (PHIL 2006), who reports that the Stellenbosch University Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) was recently selected as an International Collaborating Centre (BICC) for the Best Evidence Medical Education (BEME) Collaboration, sponsored by the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE). BEME comprises an international group of individuals, universities, and professional organizations committed to the development of evidence informed education in the health professions. This is done through: the dissemination of information, which allows teachers and other stakeholders in the health professions to make decisions on the basis of the best evidence available; the production of systematic reviews, which present the best available needs-based evidence; and the promotion of a culture of best evidence health professions education amongst individuals, institutions, and national bodies.

The FMHS is one of only 13 institutions internationally to be invited to join this select group of BICCs. The coordination of the BICC will be done jointly by the FMHS’ Centre for Evidence Based Health Care (CEBHC) and Centre for Health Professions Education (CHPE). The FMHS’ contribution to the BEME Collaboration will include: assisting in the identification and conceptualization of relevant topics for new systematic reviews; promoting the use of systematic reviews to inform health professions education; contributing to the editorial role and function of BEME review groups; providing mentorship and support for conducting new BEME reviews; and seeking funds to support the functions of the BICC and for conducting new systematic reviews.

Professors van Heerden and Juanita Bezuidenhout (PHIL 2006) will both serve on the FMHS’ BICC steering committee.