Introduction

In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, medical schools are increasingly called upon to align their education, research, and service missions with the pressing health needs of the communities they serve. This alignment is at the heart of social accountability—a transformative approach that redefines the role of medical education in society.

The Certificate Course on Social Accountability of Medical Schools is designed to equip medical educators, leaders, and stakeholders with the knowledge and tools to lead this transformation. The course emphasizes the importance of producing health professionals who are not only clinically competent but also socially responsive and community-oriented.

Social accountability in medical education is grounded in four core values: quality, equity, relevance, and cost-effectiveness. These principles guide institutions to design programs that are responsive to local health priorities, ensure equitable access to care, and foster meaningful partnerships with communities. As highlighted by the World Health Organization and global frameworks like the Global Consensus for Social Accountability (GCSA), socially accountable medical schools are essential to achieving the broader goal of "health for all".

This course offers a unique opportunity to explore these concepts through interactive online learning, real-world case studies, and collaborative discussions. Whether you're a dean, faculty member, policymaker, or student, this program will empower you to become a catalyst for change in your institution and beyond.

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Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles and conceptual frameworks of socially accountable medical schools.

• Apply the ten strategic directions for social accountability in medical education.

• Define and evaluate the roles of various stakeholders in promoting social accountability.

• Assess the level of social accountability in their institutions using established frameworks.

• Identify context-specific indicators for measuring social accountability.

• Develop actionable plans to enhance social accountability in their institutions.

• Lead and manage change processes effectively within medical schools.