The Making of International Partnerships: IAMRA

Dale L. Austin, MADeputy Chair

IAMRA Management Committee

American Association of Osteopathic Examiners Summit

January 7, 2006

The Beginning

International conferences since 1994 International collaboration among medical

regulators recognized as essential to public protection United States (Washington, DC) – 1994 Australia (Melbourne) – 1996 South Africa (Cape Town) – 1998 United Kingdom (Oxford) – 2000

Exchanged ideas and discussed common problems affecting delivery and regulation of medical practice

Formation

Conferences generated support for an International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities (IAMRA)

Planning document approved in 2000 establishing an Interim Governing Committee and outlining steps to be taken to develop a permanent governance structure

Founding Members

Australian Medical Council

Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada

Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States

General Medical Council – United Kingdom

Medical Council of Ireland

Medical Council of New Zealand

Health Professions Council of South Africa

National Board of Health and Welfare – Sweden

Purpose

To support medical regulatory authorities worldwide in protecting the public interest by promoting high standards for physician education, licensure and regulation, and facilitating the ongoing exchange of information among medical regulatory authorities.

Goals

Advocate and promote high standards Facilitate international collaboration Provide a forum for developing and sharing

new approaches Encourage and support research, policy

analysis and policy development Serve as information source

Establishment

Formalized in June 2002 at the 5th International Conference on Medical Regulation – Toronto, Canada

FSMB serving as Secretariat Secretariat@IAMRA.com

Web site: www.IAMRA.com Current membership: 72 organizations in 30 countries Tax-exempt corporation

Management Committee

Officers Chair

Prof. Thanyani Mariba, Chair, Medical and Dental Professions Board, Health Professions Council of South Africa

Deputy Chair Dale Austin, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating

Officer, Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States

Management Committee (continued)

Members-at-large Dr. John Hillery, President, Medical Council of Ireland

Sue Ineson, Chief Executive Officer, Medical Council of New Zealand

Dr. Sunil Khattri, Registrar and Secretary, Delhi Medical Council (India)

Dr. Ossama Rasslan, Secretary General, Egyptian Medical Syndicate

Finlay Scott, Chief Executive and Registrar, General Medical Council (United Kingdom)

Current Areas of Focus

Enhance membership in the Association

Secure funding for specific projects and for helping low income member organizations send delegates to IAMRA meetings

Establish IAMRA as an organization actively working to fulfill its responsibilities

Works in Progress

Fast Track Credentials System (FTCS) To quickly process licensure applications of medical

practitioners who meet or exceed “gold standards.”

Global collaborations Le Conseil National de l’Ordre des Médecins Français

(CEOM)

World Health Organization (WHO)

Working Group on CME/CPD Accreditation

Works in Progress (continued)

7th International Conference – November 11-14, 2006, New Zealand

Expansion of website Active resource for IAMRA members Clearinghouse for jurisdiction-specific information Central repository for physician information Working Group on CME/CPD members only section

Physician migration study

Thesaurus of medical regulatory terms

Works in Progress (continued)

Bylaws Committee

Exam Review Working Group

Finance and Development Committee

Projects to be initiated Establish Nominating Committee

Model for unique identifiers

Facilitate a sustainable development model for third world nations

Promising Future

IAMRA strives to be responsive to the needs and future direction of medical regulatory authorities worldwide

Communication, participation and interaction by all medical regulatory authorities deemed paramount to the true success of this international collaboration

Dale L. AustinSr. Vice President/COOFederation of State Medical Boards

PO Box 619850Dallas, TX 75261-9850Tel: 817.868.4060 Fax: 817.868.4152Email: daustin@fsmb.org