The Faculty of Medicine at the Arab American University has received a delegation from the Ministry of Health, the Arab Group, and Ibn Sina Specialized Hospital to discuss enhancing medical and clinical training programs for students, given that Ibn Sina Specialized Hospital is one of the most important teaching hospitals accredited by the University.

The delegation included the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Wael Al-Sheikh; the Chairman of the Board of the Arab Group, Dr. Salem Abu Khaizaran; and the Director General of Ibn Sina Specialized Hospital, Dr. Naji Nazzal.

The delegation was received by the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Dr. Malik Zaben, members of the Dean’s office, as well as a number of faculty and administrative staff. Professor Dr. Zaben expressed his pleasure at this visit, which reflects the strong relationship between the Arab American University and institutions in the health sector. He conveyed the greetings of the University President, Dr. Bara Asfour, the Founder Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr. Yousef Asfour, and all members of the Board of Directors, emphasizing the University’s ongoing commitment to expanding cooperation to serve the educational and research process.

He emphasized the Faculty and University’s pride in this ongoing collaboration with the Palestinian Ministry of Health and the significant efforts made to provide the necessary facilities for medical students to train in hospitals and health centers, thus ensuring a practical learning environment that meets their aspirations.

Professor Dr. Zaben expressed his gratitude to the Istishari Arab Group for its prominent role in training the Faculty’s students during the foundational phase of their medical education and for its ongoing cooperation in supporting clinical training programs.

During the meeting, the Faculty administration presented an overview of the academic programs, curriculum, and advanced clinical and diagnostic facilities, in addition to the Faculty’s vision for developing students’ skills through practical integration of education, simulation, and real-world medical applications.

During the visit, Dr. Wael Al-Sheikh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to providing advanced training environments for students, stressing the importance of building sustainable partnerships with academic institutions to enhance the competence of future medical professionals.

Dr. Salem Abu Khaizaran emphasized the Istishari Arab Group's commitment to supporting medical advancements and scientific research, affirming that the collaboration with the Arab American University serves as a significant model for developing medical education in Palestine.

For his part, Dr. Naji Nazzal, Director General of Ibn Sina Specialized Hospital, confirmed the hospital’s readiness to continue its role as a primary teaching hospital for the Faculty’s students, providing high-quality clinical training across various vital specialties to ensure students are prepared to confidently and professionally face the realities of the workplace.

The delegation’s visit included a tour of several advanced scientific and educational facilities at the Faculty of Medicine, most notably the modern anatomy laboratories that feature advanced digital technologies to help students study the human body.

The Faculty also features clinical simulation labs (Skills Labs), which provide a training environment that replicates real medical cases using mannequins and advanced simulators, and virtual reality (VR Labs), which allow students to experience practical medical scenarios in safe and immersive virtual environments, enhancing their clinical skills before transitioning to hospitals.

At the end of the visit, both parties emphasized the importance of continuing to develop training and scientific research programs and strengthening cooperation between the Arab American University, the Ministry of Health, Ibn Sina Specialized Hospital, and the Istishari Arab Group. This collaboration aims to ensure the graduation of physicians capable of meeting the needs of the Palestinian healthcare sector following the highest professional and scientific standards.