Opening ceremony, Plenary and Symposium sessions of the First SCM Annual International Conference

To commemorate the journey of 25 years of academic excellence of Shifa College of Medicine, a series of events were celebrated in the calendar year 2023. The celebrations culminated with the First SCM Annual International Scientific Conference and Alumni Reunion Dinner held from December 22-23, 2023. 

As part of the celebrations, three workshops were held on December 22, 2023 on contemporary academic topics.. Renowned educationists and subject matter experts, including Dr. Farooq Rathore, Dr. Brekhna Jamil – Director IHPER KMU, and Dr. Komal Atta – Director, Department of Medical Education, UMDC, shared insights on cutting-edge topics such as the integration of AI in scholarly writing, E-delphi, psychometrics, and the transformative impact of gamification in pedagogy.

The inaugural day also witnessed the first Digital Health Symposium, in collaboration with e-Shifa. In this event, undergraduate medical students showcased projects focusing on digital health, e-health, and u-health, leveraging state-of-the-art technologies. Simultaneously, a session for research presentations was held on diverse research topics, covering the evolving landscape relevant to the conference theme.

Day two commenced with a captivating scientific session, graced by the presence of eminent healthcare luminaries. Distinguished academicians including  President PM&DC Prof. Rizwan Taj, Senior Vice President CPSP Prof. Shoab Shafi, Prof. Zafar Mirza, and Prof. Riffat Shaif engaged in discussions addressing global healthcare challenges. Pertinent topics and ethical solutions resonating with both undergraduate and postgraduate medical education were deliberated upon, overseen by the esteemed Chairman HEC Prof. Mukhtar Ahmed as the session chair.

The subsequent symposium session, chaired by Prof. Amina Ahmed, Dean of Medical Education from CMH Lahore, featured talks from prominent SCM alumni and key figures like Dr. Malik Muhammad Adil, Director e-Shifa, Dr. Komal Atta, Director Medical Education UMDC, and renowned consultant neurologist Dr. Waqar Hafeez. Dr. Brekhna Jamil, Director IHPER, KMU, set the tone with the opening discourse, steering the conversation towards groundbreaking advancements in medical education.

In the evening, a graceful ceremony was organized to honour the founding members of SCM. Alumni, senior faculty members, and pioneering faculty were esteemed guests, receiving tokens of appreciation and momentos in recognition of their valuable contributions. A heartfelt tribute was  given to the esteemed faculty members honoring the unwavering spirit and vision of SCM’s founding members, a testament to their enduring legacy in shaping the institution’s illustrious journey across a vibrant quarter-century.