Gate of Nations Gate of Nations Persepolis,IranPersepolis,Iran

The Eastern Mediterranean

Association of Medical Editors

(EMAME): A New Partner

in the World of Medical Journalism

Farhad Handjani, MDFarhad Handjani, MD

EMAME Secretary-General & Associate Professor of EMAME Secretary-General & Associate Professor of

Dermatology, Dermatology,

Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranShiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

BACKGROUND

Increase in the number of schools in the field of Increase in the number of schools in the field of ٭٭medical sciences in the EMR.medical sciences in the EMR.

.Increase in medical research in the EMR.Increase in medical research in the EMR ٭٭

.Need for mediums to publish research findings.Need for mediums to publish research findings ٭٭

Over 400 medical journals in the EMR but many Over 400 medical journals in the EMR but many ٭٭

are of low-quality.are of low-quality.

In 2003, with the initiative of WHO/EMRO and the In 2003, with the initiative of WHO/EMRO and the ٭٭

Saudi Medical Journal, The First Regional Saudi Medical Journal, The First Regional

Conference on Medical Journals in the WHO/EMR Conference on Medical Journals in the WHO/EMR

was held in Cairo, Egypt.was held in Cairo, Egypt.

A Taskforce was assigned to set-up a forum for A Taskforce was assigned to set-up a forum for ٭٭

medical editors in the Region, to be called EMAME..medical editors in the Region, to be called EMAME..

BACKGROUND (cont.)

The Second Regional Conference on Medical The Second Regional Conference on Medical ٭٭

Journals in the WHO/EMR was held in Riyadh, Saudi Journals in the WHO/EMR was held in Riyadh, Saudi

Arabia in 2004.Arabia in 2004.

An Interim Executive Council was set-up with the An Interim Executive Council was set-up with the ٭٭

task of finalizing a constitution and establishing task of finalizing a constitution and establishing

various committees.various committees.

The Third Regional Conference on Medical Journals The Third Regional Conference on Medical Journals ٭٭

in the WHO/EMR was held in Shiraz, Iran in 2006.in the WHO/EMR was held in Shiraz, Iran in 2006.

The first General Assembly of EMAME was held The first General Assembly of EMAME was held ٭٭

during that meeting and the Interim Executive during that meeting and the Interim Executive

Council became the Executive Council.Council became the Executive Council.

The fourth EMAME Conference was held in Bahrain The fourth EMAME Conference was held in Bahrain٭٭

in 2008.in 2008.

EMAME

Is a nongovernmental, nonpartisan, and Is a nongovernmental, nonpartisan, and ٭٭

nonprofit organization established with the nonprofit organization established with the

support of WHO/EMRO.support of WHO/EMRO.

Its mission is to support medical journalism Its mission is to support medical journalism ٭٭

in the region through networking, training in the region through networking, training

and exchange of relevant information and and exchange of relevant information and

knowledge.knowledge.

EMAME Objectives

Cooperation and communication between Cooperation and communication between ٭٭

medical editors in the region and throughout medical editors in the region and throughout

the world.the world.

Promote healthcare through the Promote healthcare through the ٭٭

dissemination of high-quality medical journals.dissemination of high-quality medical journals.

.Professionalism in medical editing.Professionalism in medical editing ٭٭

.Research in peer-review.Research in peer-review ٭٭

Cooperation with national and international Cooperation with national and international ٭٭

bodies which pursue similar objectives.bodies which pursue similar objectives.

EMAME Aims

Promote activities to help upgrade the quality Promote activities to help upgrade the quality ٭٭

of medical journals in the region.of medical journals in the region.

Assist in having more journals indexed Assist in having more journals indexed ٭٭

internationally.internationally.

.Improve existing regional indexing systems.Improve existing regional indexing systems ٭٭

Formulate guidelines for a regional Formulate guidelines for a regional ٭٭

publication code of ethics.publication code of ethics.

EMAME Committees

Editorship Committee ٭٭

Chairperson: Farrokh Habibzadeh (Iran)Chairperson: Farrokh Habibzadeh (Iran)

E- journalism Committee ٭٭

Chairperson: Najeeb Al- Shorbaji (WHO/EMRO)Chairperson: Najeeb Al- Shorbaji (WHO/EMRO)

Research Ethics and Scientific Misconduct ٭٭Committee

Chairperson: Diaa Rizk (UAE)Chairperson: Diaa Rizk (UAE)

Education and Training Committee ٭٭

Chairperson: Jane Nicholson (WHO/EMRO)Chairperson: Jane Nicholson (WHO/EMRO)

Evidence- based Medicine Committee ٭٭

Chairperson: Maqbool Jafary (Pakistan)Chairperson: Maqbool Jafary (Pakistan)

Research and Scientific Committee ٭٭

Chairperson: Shaukat Jawaid (Pakistan)Chairperson: Shaukat Jawaid (Pakistan)

EMAME Executive Council

President: Ahmed Jamal (Bahrain) Ahmed Jamal (Bahrain)

President Elect: Maqbool Jafary (Pakistan) Maqbool Jafary (Pakistan)

Past President: Basim Yaqub (Saudi Arabia) Basim Yaqub (Saudi Arabia)

Secretary-General/Treasurer: Farhad Handjani Farhad Handjani

(Iran)(Iran)

Vice- Presidents: Farrokh Habibzadeh (Iran)Farrokh Habibzadeh (Iran)

Fatema Jawad (Pakistan) Fatema Jawad (Pakistan)

Hassan Bella (Sudan) Hassan Bella (Sudan)

Vice- Presidents- at- large:

Region 1: Diaa Rizk (Egypt)Region 1: Diaa Rizk (Egypt)

Region 2: Yusef Abdulrazzaq (United Arab Region 2: Yusef Abdulrazzaq (United Arab

Emirates)Emirates)

Region 3: Mohammad Tarwaneh (Jordan)Region 3: Mohammad Tarwaneh (Jordan)

Region 4: Mohammad Baher Rokni (Iran )Region 4: Mohammad Baher Rokni (Iran )

CONCLUSION

EMAME is now a well- established organization EMAME is now a well- established organization ٭٭

with over 300 members and has an active listserv.with over 300 members and has an active listserv.

It seeks the help of qualified individuals and It seeks the help of qualified individuals and ٭٭

related bodies in organizing workshops, seminars related bodies in organizing workshops, seminars

and teaching modules to promote high- quality and teaching modules to promote high- quality

medical journalism.medical journalism.

UPCOMING EVENT

The Fifth Regional Conference on The Fifth Regional Conference on

Medical Journals in the WHO/EMRMedical Journals in the WHO/EMR

Pakistan, 2010Pakistan, 2010

Visit us at: www.emro.who.int/EMAMEVisit us at: www.emro.who.int/EMAME

AuthorAID in the Eastern Meditteranean: A New Initiative

in the Region

/Author AID projects (http:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Author AID projects (http:en.wikipedia.org/wiki ٭٭AuthorAID) aim to help researchers overcome AuthorAID) aim to help researchers overcome obstacles to participation in the international obstacles to participation in the international scientific community by helping them publish scientific community by helping them publish successfully in English, and by helping editors successfully in English, and by helping editors improve the quality of journals produced in improve the quality of journals produced in developing countries.developing countries.

Initially, AuthorAID projects were conceived as Initially, AuthorAID projects were conceived as٭٭systems in which both retired gatekeepers and systems in which both retired gatekeepers and working authors’ editors would communicate with working authors’ editors would communicate with researchers by email.researchers by email.

.AuthorAID volunteers also work on site.AuthorAID volunteers also work on site٭٭

AAEM

First on-site phase started in January 2009 in First on-site phase started in January 2009 in ٭٭Shiraz, Iran.Shiraz, Iran.

Ms. Karen Shashok, a volunteer author Ms. Karen Shashok, a volunteer author ٭٭ editor, participated actively in the project editor, participated actively in the project with the cooperation of SUMS.with the cooperation of SUMS.

-Over 70 manuscripts were edited in a one-Over 70 manuscripts were edited in a one ٭٭to-one fashion.to-one fashion.

Education training events were organized Education training events were organized ٭٭for medical students and faculty.for medical students and faculty.

Planned sessions with some medical journals Planned sessions with some medical journals ٭٭at SUMS (editing, training and advising on at SUMS (editing, training and advising on current best editorial practices).current best editorial practices).