Developing the Competencies of Educators Through Continuing Professional Development

Gohar Wajid is medical doctor and health professions educationist. He is currently working as Technical Officer for Health Professions education in the WHO Office of the Eastern Mediterranean Region. He is responsible for promoting health professions education in the EMR and advising Member States to address the issue of shortage of health workers through promoting high quality education. In the past, Dr Wajid worked in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates for health systems development and health professions education. He has played a significant role in professionalizing and institutionalizing health professions education in Pakistan and promoting educational research. His work involves strengthening medical education regulations, establishing health professions education programmes, and developing a community of practice. He is on the editorial board of several journals globally. His research interests include the understanding of professionalism, clinical reasoning, emotional intelligence, and accreditation and regulation systems. He believes that health professions education is an effective way to overcome the shortage of health professionals in most countries of the Region. Strengthening health professions education contributes to developing health workforce and thus achieving universal health coverage and sustainable development goals targets.