Meeting of Bangladesh Society of Medicine April 2025

The 24^th International Congress and Scientific Seminar of the Bangladesh Society of Medicine (BSIM) took place 25 -27 April at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Dhaka. The theme of the meeting was “Pioneering Reforms for a Resilient Future”. Once again the meeting was of a high standard with the contributions of local speakers being complimented by contributions from international speakers. The vast majority of international speakers were Bangldesh graduates who obtained specialist qualifications overseas; most in Australia but also the UK. It was very clear that BSIM is striving to improve health outcomes in Bangladesh adapting findings or methodology from other countries for Bangladesh. The numerous Bangladesh born physicians in influential positions in other countries will play a major role in these initiatives.

A very pleasing aspect of the meeting was the large number of trainees who attended; more than 500 out of a total attendance of more than a thousand. A substantial proportion of the program was directed specifically at the trainees; the first day comprised 6 " interactive training sessions". These were case-based and although the size of the audience precluded a lot of interaction, there was some audience participation. There were several sessions in which trainees or young physicians presented their research.

Conference dinners were held on two nights, each preceded by a “Cultural Night”. On the first evening the performers were doctors and/or their children. On the second night, the performances were by well known (in Bangladesh) performers. The pride of the delegates in their culture was heart-warming. These events contributed to a very friendly atmosphere at the meeting

As is often the case, the annual scientific meeting provided the opportunity for other activities. The involvement of ISIM representatives in these activities provides an opportunity to demonstrate additional advantages of ISIM management.

On the day before the conference began, a mock clinical examination for trainees, mostly 3 or 4 years post-graduation was conducted on the campus of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital.  The clinical examination of the Faculty of Medicine of the Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons comprises two long cases and 4 short cases – similar to the RACP clinical examination. The event was organized by Bangladesh Society of Medicine and about 15 senior clinicians were involved as examiners. Over 100 trainees took part and they were characterized by their engagement and enthusiasm About half of the trainees were female. Overall, I found my involvement and the interaction with trainees and fellow examiners to be a most enjoyable experience. The feed-back from trainees was very positive. Cases were sourced from the wards and sadly the advanced disease meant the patients had excellent clinical signs. Reflecting the local epidemiology, I saw my first case of a particular form of Leishmaniasis.

At the 2024 meeting of BSM, a meeting took place between senior members of the Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons and invited persons including the ISIM representative and a number of physicians who were Bangladesh graduates who gained specialist qualifications overseas and now live and work in a different country. These physicians represent a excellent resource and I was pleased to learn that the College has established a group of overseas-based physicians to advise the Board. The Bangladesh College is keen to review its curricula for physician training and its CPD programme. There was a particular interest in the non-medical expert domains of physician activity. Subsequently contact was made by the ISIM representative to the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) who have agreed to share their training curricula, their CPD programme format and the code of conduct (Supporting Professionalism in Practice).  A further meeting was held at the 2025 conference between senior leadership of the Faculty of Medicine of the Bangldesh College of Physicians and Surgeons, 3 Australian-based Bangladesh physicians and myself. A sperate meeting took place between Prof Dr F M Siddiqui from BSIM and 2 Australian-based Bangladesh physicians and myself. Although a number of physicians in Bangladesh are engaged in continuing medical education, the Bangladesh physicians are keen to establish a more formal CPD programme which includes initially will consist mainly of documentation of activities.

John Kolbe, April 2025