Prof. Hossam Hamdy, Chancellor of Gulf Medical University was awarded the Ministry of Health & Prevention’s Award for Innovative Learning Technology at the Healthcare Innovation Awards ceremony conducted by the Ministry of Health & Prevention (MOHAP), held at the MOHAP Training and Development Center in Sharjah, on 13th February, 2020.

The award was conferred to Prof. Hossam for developing Virtual Patient Learning (VPL), significantly enhancing students’ skills and learning experience.

“VPL is the most sophisticated simulator with the highest fidelity using artificial intelligence and problem-based learning in medical education.

The Virtual Patient Learning (VPL) technology of Gulf Medical University (GMU), Ajman, developed by the Chancellor Prof. Hossam Hamdy - internationally known medical educator and active pediatric surgeon - was recognized as ‘one of the most innovative technologies in life sciences’, at the Healthcare Innovation Awards ceremony conducted by the Ministry of Health & Prevention (MOHAP)” an official press statement from the university stated.

Developed for training the medical and health professions students of GMU, Virtual Patient Learning (VPL) is the most sophisticated simulator with the highest fidelity using artificial intelligence and problem-based learning in medical education. It exposes future healthcare professionals to a wide range of patient problems involving males and females of different age groups and ethnic backgrounds, so that they practice their clinical skills in a virtual setting before being introduced to actual clinical settings.

As a Problem-Based Learning (PBL) application, VPL invokes critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and communicational skills amongst students. The program gives the students authentic medical problems including history and clinical examination, investigations, lab results, vital signs, X-rays, and interaction with virtual patients to obtain information that would help them correctly identify medical problems of each case and prescribe treatments.

Expressing delight at the prestigious MOHAP recognition won by VPL, Prof. Hossam Hamdy said, “It is wonderful to see innovative training methodologies used at Gulf Medical University being recognized at the regional and global levels. The Virtual Patient Learning (VPL) is the only simulation which captures the patient’s emotional reactions to the learner’s approach of communications with the virtual patient. Because it is highly authentic and extends beyond the simple acquisition of knowledge, I believe that Virtual Patient Learning (VPL) will gradually replace the traditional less authentic forms of Problem Based Learning.”

GMU is the first university in the Middle East region to introduce VPL, which is making a huge difference to the overall learning experience of the students, arming them with additional skills and insights to evolve as healthcare professionals of the future. VPL has won international acclaim earlier, securing top positions regionally and globally at the Reimagine Education Conference & Awards in the USA, in the Creative Learning and E-learning categories.

Virtual patient learning can be used in two modes: a ‘learning’ mode and an ‘evaluation’ mode. The learning mode is developed to stimulate student-centered learning and is linked to a large number of resources such as radiological images, laboratory results, videos, and management guidelines. The evaluation mode can be used for the purpose of evaluating students’ decision-making and communication skills.

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Bhubaneswar (PTI): Train service resumed on both tracks of the Cuttack-Nergundi rail section in Odisha's Cuttack district on Monday morning following the derailment of the SMVT Bengaluru-Kamakhya AC Express on the route, a senior railway official said.

The derailment, which occurred between Kendrapara Road and Nergundi stations in the Cuttack-Bhadrak railway section on Sunday had disrupted train services temporarily, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) said in a statement.

The first passenger train, Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express (train No-22823), passed the site in the down line at 10.25 am, it said.

ECoR's railway men worked tirelessly through the night and under challenging conditions to restore the affected tracks by 07:15 am on Monday, the track was cleared and ready for train movement and the Overhead Equipment (OHE) was fully restored by 07:40 am, it said.

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The first train on the 'down line' passed through at 09:30 am, while the "up-line" resumed service shortly thereafter, a railway official said.

Trains resumed normal movement at reduced speeds (approximately 10 km per hour) as restoration work continued. Speed limits will be gradually increased as the situation stabilises, he said.

A 22-year-old youth from Alipurdwar in West Bengal was killed and three others injured in the accident. The railway authorities have provided compensation to the victims.

Due to the derailment, ECoR diverted 38 down-line trains and 17 up-line trains to alternative routes, ensuring minimal disruption to passengers.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), South Eastern Circle, Kolkata under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Brijesh Kumar Mishra started an inquiry into the incident. He visited the site on Sunday night, said Parmeshwar Funkwal, general manager of East Coast Railway.

CRS will also hold a statutory inquiry in connection with the above incident where the details of the derailment and accident will be heard during the probe, he said.

Any member of the public having knowledge relating to the derailment and matters connected therewith and desiring to give evidence may do so at the office of the DRM/Khurda Road Division, Jatni (Khurda Road) on April 1 and 2, the official said.

Public having knowledge relating to the derailment can also write to "The Commissioner of Railway Safety, South Eastern Circle, 14, Strand Road, 12th Floor, Koilaghat Street, Kolkata-700001."