BRIDGING THE GAP: REFLECTIONS ON PUBLIC-PRIVATE COLLABORATION IN MEDICAL EDUCATION THROUGH THE WORLD DIABETES DAY EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Public-private collaboration in healthcare helps improve medical education by exposing students to real clinical situations. Through this event, medical students from the National Defence University of Malaysia (NDUM) joined the exhibition, helping with patient education, teamwork and programs for the community. Groups of students joined endocrinologists, primary care specialists, dietitians, wound care experts and physiotherapists at five interactive booths to provide information on managing diabetes. Working in labs helped students better understand what they learn in class and communicate about difficult medical topics. At the same time, the event paid special attention to mentorship, making connections and working in teams, sharing what is important in treating patients and why a multidisciplinary approach helps. The simulation experience helped students understand both theory and practice about the mental effects of diabetes and how could react with more empathy toward each patient. This article points out that public-private collaboration in medical education can be transformative and suggests that more emphasis be placed on experiential learning. As medical education adjusts, universities and healthcare organizations must grow close so they can raise well-prepared, kind and flexible healthcare workers.