Faculty Development

2024-09-19

Orientation meetings for new lecturers were held at TMA, the purpose of the meetings was to facilitate the integration of lecturers into the new workspace.

Within the framework of the meeting, Ekaterine Kldiashvili, TMA's Vice-Rector in Research, introduced the main strategic directions of the Academy, and the Dean School of Medicine Lali Mekokishvili introduced organizational issues and communication opportunities with the administration to the new lecturers. Maka Maglakelidze, the head of the Institutional Culture Development Department, gave the participants the opportunity to analyze the mission of the Academy through a workshop.

The participants of the meeting also got acquainted with the educational program of TMA, library resources, and the electronic system of educational process management. They were also given the opportunity to visit the educational infrastructure of TMA, namely the Clinical Skills Center and the Library.

Head of Quality Assurance Departament Nino Sikharulidze spoke to the participants of the meeting about the culture of quality established in the academy and the involvement of lecturers in quality assurance. The head of the examination center, Vakhtang Deisadze, introduced the participants to the basic principles of the functioning of the examination center and the process of standardization of examinations.

Within the framework of the meeting, the participants had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the framework of competencies of a lecturer involved in medical education, which was developed by the Faculty Development Department of the Academy based on the guidelines provided by the International Association of European Medical Education - AMEE and Ronald Harden's manual - Eight Roles of the Medical Teacher.

At the end of the meeting, the dean of the School of Medicine, Lali Mekokishvili, and the head of the program, Tsisana Lomashvili, answered the questions of interest to the new lecturers.

After the meeting, the lecturers write a self-analysis, where they reflect on the value of the received information and the possibility of practical application in the teaching process. Based on the feedback received from the lecturers, the Faculty Development Department plans further activities for the lecturers.

2024-09-04

TMA representatives participated in one of the most significant events of the year, which was dedicated to medical education. This year, The International Association for Health Professions Education, AMEE 2024 conference (24.08 -28.08 ) was hosted in Basel, Switzerland, where the Academy presented three notable presentations:

• Exploring Perspectives on Death and Dying Among Final-Year Undergraduate Medical Students at Tbilisi Medical Academy, Georgia - Kakha Bregvadze, Coordinator of the Center of Innovations in Medical Education;

• Explore to Real and Virtual patients as professional perception and motivation for preclinical medical students - - Magda Tvildiani, Horizon Europe Grant Office Coordinator, and Dea Goderdzishvili, Medical Education and Research Specialist;

• Introducing GOTs (growth-oriented tests) – relative freedom with responsibility – Bidzina Chachkhiani, Deputy Head of the Quality Assurance Department, and Vakho Deisadze, Head of the Examination Centre.
  
  

In addition to these presentations, Academy representatives participated in workshops, attended plenary sessions, and visited exhibitions.

The conference, held under the theme "Connect, Grow, and Inspire," was attended by thousands of representatives from universities across more than 100 countries. It provided an excellent opportunity to explore the latest trends in international cooperation, professional development, and health education.

2024-08-27

TMA consistently supports the professional development of academic and invited staff, focusing on enhancing learning-teaching, evaluation methods, and scientific research skills. For this purpose, TMA representatives Mariam Nikolashvili, Natia Garuchava, Mariam Gogadze, Ina Leshkasheli, and Tinatin Akhvlediani participated in short-term summer exchange programs hosted by Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. 

As part of the Erasmus+ Staff Mobility program, the Academy representatives attended several training courses organized by Radboud University: SEM (Structural Equation Modeling); Excellence Beyond Borders: Breaking Down Barriers in Gifted Education; INSIGHTS: Integrating Sex and Gender in Health Sciences.

Participants in the exchange program were selected through an open competition conducted by the TMA selection commission and the International Department of Radboud University. 

The program participants will share their experiences from the Netherlands with their colleagues at the Academy this fall.

2024-08-05

From 22.07 to 25.07.2024, TMA’s Faculty Development Department organized the training - "VOSCE (Virtual OSCE) - Digital Tool for Objective Structured Examination of Clinical Reasoning Skills of Medical Students."

The training was accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME®) and awarded 17 CME credits.

During the 4-day training, TMA hosted 41 representatives (25 in person, 16 online) from 11 different universities, including Ilia State University, Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi State Medical University, University of Georgia, Alte University, Grigol Robakidze University, Georgian-American University, David Tvildiani University, Yerevan Traditional Medicine, Yerevan State University, and Kerala University (India).

The goal of the training/course was to introduce an objectively structured digital tool (Virtual OSCE/VOSCE) to assess the clinical reasoning ability of medical school/faculty students.

Within the framework of the 4-day training, the participants, along with familiarizing themselves with the theoretical material, had the opportunity to prepare tasks for the objectively structured clinical exam (OSCE) as a group and attend the relevant exams at TMA (VOSCE and OSCE). The training participants also had the opportunity to adapt to the role of a student and test themselves within the framework of the VOSCE.

The training course was prepared by TMA professors Ia Avaliani, Cisana Lomashvili, Akaki Sefashvili, Khatia Khatiashvili, Tatia Shotadze, and Berika Kiknadze.

2024-07-30

The Faculty Development and Research and the Doctoral Department of TMA organized a working meeting of the Journal Club. The Journal Club is one of the activities promoting the professional development of staff, where experts in the field discuss contemporary literature related to medical education methodology.

The current Journal Club meeting topic was "Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: Opportunities and Challenges." Magda Tvildian, coordinator of the HORIZON EUROPE grant office, presented an article published in the journal “Medical Teacher” in 2023 titled "Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence in Health Professions Education."

Eka Kldiashvili, head of the Research and Doctoral Department and a member of the group working on artificial intelligence at European universities, delivered a presentation reviewing artificial intelligence as an opportunity for the transformation of higher education. Meanwhile, Saba Iordanishvili, coordinator of students' scientific and research activities, and Saif Rustum, coordinator of international students, discussed how they utilize the capabilities of artificial intelligence in their daily practices.

At the end of the event, participants emphasized the need to continue dialogue with students and lecturers about artificial intelligence. They also highlighted the importance of lecturers' involvement in the club focused on this topic at TMA.

2024-07-04

Enroll in an EACCME® Accredited Course

From 22.07-25.07.2024, Petre Shotadze Tbilisi Medical Academy (Georgia) will hold a 4-day training course “VOSCE (Virtual OSCE) - digitalized tool for Objective Structured Examination of Clinical Reasoning Skills of Medical Students”.

The training course has been accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME®) with 17 European CME credits (ECMEC®s).

Who it’s for:

All medical specialists enrolled in undergraduate Medical Education (It is aimed at those who are new in medical education, it is also of value to more experienced educators who would like to deepen their understanding of educational principles of OSCE and VOSCE).

The Aim:

Introduction of objective structured digitalized tool for assessment of clinical reasoning skills of medical students. 

Along with learning the theoretical material within the training, you will have the opportunity to prepare assignments for an objectively structured clinical exam as a group and also attend the relevant exams in the academy (VOSCE and OSCE).

The training course was prepared by professors (Specialists in Medical Education) of Petre Shotadze Tbilisi Medical Academy (TMA) according to the experience gained during the SAFEMED + project – Simulation in Undergraduate Medical Education for improvement of Safety and Quality of Patient Care, which was selected for funding by the European Union and highly regarded Erasmus + programmed in 2020. The aim of this project was – to improve the quality of medical education, modernization, and implementation of clinical skills in the curriculum. 

After completing the training, you will receive a certificate with corresponding credit points. 

Language of instruction: English.

Link for Registration - 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScSR10_Cmar_ELoXo-SgURYoxX_1fL-qD111heWq-Mhqqp1TA/viewform

Please see the detailed program of training on our web page  https://tma.edu.ge/vosce 

Attendance for participants from TMA partner universities is free.

2024-06-19

TMA constantly provides training for academic and invited lecturers in the methodology of Medical Education. This time, the training was held on the topic: "Feedback in medical education". Within the framework of the training, the participants got acquainted with the principles of effective feedback and relevant international recommendations. Also, the role and place of feedback in the educational program of TMA was discussed. Within the framework of the training, the participants were divided into groups and discussed the task (an example of feedback) provided by the trainer. The training was led by Natalia Kotchlashvili.

The next day of the training was devoted to the topic "Assessment in medical education, how to create a standard MCQ". The participants of the training had the opportunity to get acquainted with the international practice of creating MCQ tests and the recommendations guided by the Academy. During the meeting, the participants discussed several samples of good and bad tests. The training was led by the heads of the TMA examination center - Vakho Deisadze and Jimi Bregvadze.

2024-06-17

Two more representatives of TMA obtained the status of specialist in medical education.

Deputy to the Dean of the School of Medicine in the direction of relations with students Tinatin Akhvlediani and coordinator of international students Saif Rustum successfully completed four training courses organized by the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE) and obtained the status of specialist in medical education.

Tbilisi Medical Academy continues to support the continuous professional development of staff in the direction of medical education methodology. Accordingly, the training courses ESME - "Essential Skills in Medical Education" offered by AMEE are a step forward in this direction. For TMA, it is most important for integration into the European educational space.

The training courses were organized by AMEE's regional representative office in Georgia.

2026-08-01

TMA Faculty Development Department organized a working meeting with academic and invited faculty members.

The purpose of the meeting was to reflect on and share experiences gained during the first year of implementing the lecture-free curriculum and to discuss its achievements, challenges, and future opportunities.

During the meeting, faculty members had the opportunity to openly reflect on their own experiences, share successful practices, discuss existing challenges, and collaboratively explore ways to further improve the program. The exchange of experiences among colleagues facilitated the sharing of new ideas, effective teaching strategies, and practical solutions.

During the meeting, the Quality Assurance Office presented an analysis of the lecture-free curriculum based on student feedback and the results of focus groups conducted with course leaders.

The reflective meeting was attended by the head of programmes and the Dean, who actively participated in the discussions, listened to the experiences and perspectives of the academic staff, and provided valuable feedback.

The program directors emphasized that such meetings and reflective practice are essential for strengthening collaboration among faculty members, successfully implementing educational innovations, and continuously improving the quality of teaching.

2026-07-14

Tbilisi Medical Academy hosted The Research Day, an academic event dedicated to showcasing the institution's ongoing research activities, recent scientific achievements, and the outcomes of international collaborative projects.

The event aimed to promote research excellence, strengthen academic collaboration, and foster a vibrant research culture within the Academy. It provided academic staff with an opportunity to learn about one another's current research projects, exchange ideas, discuss future collaborations, and explore opportunities for developing joint research initiatives.

The Research Day program featured presentations on the following topics:

• The application of artificial intelligence in laboratory diagnostics
• Liposomal encapsulation and delivery of bacteriophages
• Cancer biomarker research
• Artificial intelligence-supported teaching in preclinical medical education
• Current Erasmus+ projects at Tbilisi Medical Academy

Through its research projects TMA encourages knowledge exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the continued advancement of its scientific and research capacity.

2026-07-14

We are delighted to announce that another cohort of TMA staff members has successfully completed the Essential Skills in Medical Education (ESME) certification program, offered by the International Association for Health Professions Education (AMEE).

After successfully completing four AMEE training courses, the following TMA representatives were awarded the internationally recognized Medical Educator status:

• Ia Avaliani - Vice Rector In International Affairs
• Kakha Bregvadze - Co-Head of the One-Step Educational Programme
• Bidzina Chachkhiani - Deputy Head of the Quality Assurance Office
• Ana Mamiseishvili -Coordinator of the Rector's Current Affairs
• Ina Leshkasheli - Study Process Management Coordinator

Tbilisi Medical Academy remains committed to supporting the continuous professional development of its academic and administrative staff in the field of medical education. The ESME (Essential Skills in Medical Education) programme, developed by AMEE, represents an important milestone in strengthening educational expertise and promoting excellence in teaching.

Participation in this internationally recognized programme also plays a significant role in advancing TMA's integration into the European Higher Education Area by aligning educational practices with internationally accepted standards.

The training courses were organized by the Georgian Regional Office of AMEE.

2026-05-05

Within the framework of this initiative, Associate Professor Maka Zarnadze, Head of the Faculty Development Department, and Dea Goderdzishvili, Medical Education and Research Specialist, represented Tbilisi Medical Academy (TMA) in the peer group and collaborated with European universities. 

The report summarizes the results of intensive cooperation carried out by TMA over the course of one year. In particular, it highlights best practices in the teaching and learning model that TMA implements for staff development. The report aims to bring together universities from across Europe, create a platform for sharing experiences, and foster the development of joint visions to enhance the quality of education.

This cooperation is particularly valuable as it generates mutual benefits. On the one hand, the Academy actively participates in the European University Association's activities and shares its experience. On the other hand, it adopts the best international practices and further strengthens its integration into the European Higher Education Area.

The recommendations and practical framework developed as a result of this year-long collaboration contribute to strengthening transnational cooperation and supporting the effective implementation of staff professional development across European higher education institutions.

The thematic peer group includes the University of Huelva (Spain), the University of Côte d’Azur (France), the University of Warwick (United Kingdom), among others. The group was led by Linköping University (Sweden). The coordinator of the working group is Jonas Leschke, Head of Unit for Strategic Teaching Projects, Ruhr University Bochum (Germany).

2026-04-01

Tbilisi Medical Academy (TMA) hosted a working visit by the Heads of the Curriculum Innovations in Medical Education Department (CIMED), Professors Joke Denekens and Herman Van Rossum (Antwerp, Belgium).

During the visit, the Belgian experts met with TMA’s administrative, academic, and invited personnel. Together, they reviewed key challenges in both basic and clinical courses education and discussed practical solutions. The experts emphasized the need to strengthen curriculum integration. They recommended improving horizontal integration by incorporating psychosocial and behavioral sciences into clinical reasoning sessions. They also highlighted the importance of vertical integration to ensure the continuous development of professional competencies from basic sciences through clinical training. In addition, participants discussed ways to improve the quality and effectiveness of clinical rotation overall.

The experts met with semester coordinators and shared international best practices for efficient academic process coordination.

They also attended clinical training seminars and provided professional feedback to clinicians.

In addition, Professors Denekens and Van Rossum delivered a training session for clinicians titled “Learning, Teaching and Assessment in Clinical Courses.” They also attended a workshop on Workplace-Based Assessment (WPBA) led by the program’s Clinical Co-Director, Kakha Bregvadze.

The sessions were held in an interactive format, encouraging active participation from clinicians. This approach enabled in-depth discussion of key challenges in clinical education and supported the exchange of effective teaching and assessment strategies.

2026-03-04

https://youtu.be/8nIm6THNy1U?si=dTwKnF6_hS-JCBFu

Petre Shotadze Tbilisi Medical Academy (TMA) is proud to serve as a partner and host of the official Kick-Off Meeting (KoM) of the Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange Project VITAL – Virtual Innovation and Training for Advancing Faculty Leaders, Digital Competencies, and Research Excellence.

VITAL aims to strengthen the professional development of early-career faculty in Georgia and Ukraine by focusing on 4 main objectives:

• Supporting career development through soft skills and academic leadership training;
• Improving digital competencies through innovative and AI-supported teaching methods;
• Strengthening research capacity through peer mentorship, methodology workshops, and co-authorship opportunities;
• Promoting European values through inclusive leadership and improved institutional policies.

The four-day meeting, held at TMA marked the official launch of this three-year project, lays the foundation for a coordinated start of the project, and supports its successful implementation.

VITAL is implemented by an international consortium bringing together partner universities from Spain (University of Santiago de Compostela), Italy (INFOR Elea Smart Business Academy), Ukraine (Institute of Food Biotechnology and Genomics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine - IFBG, Ternopil National Medical University, Ukraine - TNMU), and Georgia (Petre Shotadze Tbilisi Medical Academy - TMA, Business and Technology University - BTU).

Within the project, TMA participates as a partner organization, and its implementation and coordination on behalf of the Academy are facilitated by the Faculty Development Department and the Research and PhD Department, ensuring strong institutional engagement.

2026-02-23

Within frames of Erasmus+ Staff Mobility Programme, TMA hosted the Head of the Centre for Medical Education of Lodz Medical University (Poland), Prof. Janusz Janczukowicz alongside his colleagues, in order to share their expertise and knowledge with the students and staff of TMA.

Throughout the visit, the guests presented impressive insights in defining and teaching Medical Professionalism, innovative methods in immunology and trauma informed care/education. Alongside interactive lectures, workshops were implemented around the topics of leadership and doctor-patient communication. The visit also included productive meetings with the administrative and academic staff of TMA, where best practices and current experiences were shared around planning and implementing medical professionalism in the curricula. The parties also discussed potential areas of prospective cooperation and established grounds for joint activities.

Alongside these topics, part of the visit was directed to the one-health approach and topics of planetary health. 

It was an honor and pleasure to host the colleagues from Poland and TMA looks forward to further cooperation opportunities that will involve joint scientific, research and transdisciplinary activities.

2026-02-16

The annual forum of the European University Association (EUA) was hosted this year by Lisbon, Portugal. The main theme of the forum was to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in European universities through staff development.

Within the framework of the meeting, Tbilisi Medical Academy was represented by Associate Professor Maka Zarnadze, Head of the Faculty Development Department, and Ana Mamiseishvili, Coordinator of the Rector’s Current Affairs. Together with European partner universities, the Academy’s representatives presented to the forum participants the results of a one-year work of the European University Association’s thematic working group. In particular, they facilitated a workshop dedicated to transnational cooperation in the field of staff development.