Implementation of The First Medical science Olympiad in Iran: A report

The first national medical science Olympiad suggested by Isfahan University of Medical Sciences was hold in 2009 in Isfahan. The venture had the mission to identify and flourish potentials in Iranian medical science students - the health system's capital. The ministry of health in collaboration with the affiliated universities hosted 364 medical science students. Students formed teams of three members and competed excitingly in a friendly atmosphere in solving problems which could help promote our health system or basic medical sciences. To reach better coordination, meetings with authorities of ministry of health and academic members of universities were held. 35 academic members from 13 universities formed committees to set questions/ problems to be discussed and solved. Questions were of Key features, scenario, script concordance, matching, and open ended types. Individual and group tests on three domains (clinical reasoning, basic science reasoning, and health system managerial reasoning) were held in 2 days each. To assess the quality of the tests and also the Olympiad itself, students were asked to take part in a survey. Most participants (94%) believed there was a difference between the Olympiad and the usual university exams. Also about 60% found the quality of the event satisfactory and 72% said they would encourage friends to take part in the following year’s Olympiad. It appears that such events, creating an exciting and happy atmosphere, could help nurture educational creativity in students and inspire them to go beyond routine studying and thus fill certain educational gaps in health system. The Olympiad being the first medical experience of the kind, further studies and modifications will certainly be necessary to improve it further.