Mid-Year Reflections: Advancing Quality in Medical Education Worldwide

As we move through 2026, we take this opportunity to reconnect with our global colleagues and partners. July offers a natural pause for reflection — an opportunity to assess our progress and refine our priorities for the months ahead.

The year so far has been marked by purposeful momentum. Building on a milestone-filled 2025, we have focused on strengthening the reach and impact of our expanding global network. This includes the continued rollout of our Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Recognition Programmes, as well as monitoring the tangible impact of the WFME Declaration across institutions worldwide. Your shared commitment remains central to advancing this work.

In this mid-year edition, we share updates on our expanding network of recognised agencies and insights from recent initiatives. We are also pleased to mark an important milestone for WFME as we officially welcome Dr. Marisa Nimrod, MD, MPH, as our new Executive Director. Her leadership will help shape the next chapter of WFME''s work. Thank you for your continued partnership as we carry this momentum into the months head.

Announcing WFME''s New Executive Director

WFME is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Marisa Nimrod, MD, MPH, as our new Executive Director. In this role, Dr. Nimrod will provide strategic and operational leadership for the organisation and guide the work of our international Secretariat, ensuring WFME''s continued relevance in an increasingly complex global landscape.

An accomplished physician, global health leader, and healthcare executive, Dr. Nimrod brings more than 13 years of experience spanning clinical medicine, health systems leadership, public health, medical education, and international health policy. Her appointment represents an important milestone for WFME as we continue advancing our core mission to enhance the quality of medical education worldwide.

Meet WFME at AMEE 2026 in Vienna

The WFME leadership team and programme managers will be attending the AMEE 2026 Conference in Vienna, Austria, this August. We look forward to connecting in person with colleagues, WFME Declaration signatories, and international partners.

WFME representatives in attendance will include:
• Professor Ricardo León-Bórquez, President
• Dr. Geneviève Moineau, Vice President
• Professor Emiola Oluwabunmi Olapade-Olaopa, President-Elect
• Dr. Marisa Nimrod, Executive Director
• Jana Cohlová, Recognition Programme Manager
• Barbora Hrabalová, World Directory of Medical Schools Project Manager

👉 To arrange a formal meeting with a representative during the conference, please select one of the following links:

Meet the President and Vice President
Meet the Vice President and Executive Director
Meet the Recognition Team
Meet the World Directory of Medical Schools Team

Building Organisational Resilience: Meet the WFME Risk Committee

Strong governance requires foresight — and the WFME Risk Committee plays a central role in ensuring that our organisation remains prepared for the challenges of a rapidly changing global environment.

The WFME Risk Committee (RC) is a subcommittee of the WFME Executive Council, the organisation''s principal governing and decision-making body. Its core purpose is to ensure that WFME remains vigilant, resilient, and secure by proactively identifying, monitoring, and mitigating risks that could affect our ability to fulfil our global mission in the quality assurance of medical education.

The Committee oversees a wide spectrum of risk categories — financial, operational, organisational and political — providing the Executive Council with a clear and prioritised understanding of WFME''s evolving risk landscape. A central tool in this work is the WFME Risk Register, which members review regularly and update as needed. Their responsibilities include assessing current risks, tracking progress on mitigation efforts, and identifying emerging risks that require strategic attention.

One of the Committee''s practical priorities is the safety and security of assessors travelling internationally as part of WFME''s Recognition Programmes. The RC ensures that the wellbeing of those conducting on-site assessments is carefully evaluated before and during any mission. In addition, the Committee reviews WFME’s financial performance and related risks, working closely with the Finance Committee to support strong organisational stewardship.

By embedding risk awareness into WFME''s governance, the Committee helps safeguard the integrity and continuity of all WFME''s programmes and supports sound, evidence-based decision-making at the highest level.

The committee is chaired by Prof. Aviad Haramati, with members Prof. Wayne Hodgson, Prof. Ahmed Al Rumayyan, and Dr. Ramin Parsa-Parsi.

Through this work, the Risk Committee strengthens WFME’s ability to operate confidently and responsibly across diverse international contexts.

Strengthening Quality Worldwide: Recognition Programme Highlights

This year''s activity reflects a strong and sustained demand for internationally aligned quality standards.

WFME''s global quality frameworks continue to grow steadily across the continuum of medical education. Since January 2026 we have seen encouraging progress across both basic medical education (BME) and postgraduate medical education (PGME).

Basic Medical Education (BME)

Three new agencies have formally applied to the BME Recognition Programme, reflecting sustained international interest in strengthening quality assurance systems. In addition, three existing agencies have successfully renewed their recognition status, demonstrating ongoing commitment to maintaining high standards.

Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME)
Three agencies are currently engaged in the PGME Recognition Programme process, marking continued expansion of postgraduate quality assurance efforts worldwide.

Together, these developments highlight the growing global momentum behind WFME''s recognition frameworks and the shared commitment of institutions to advance excellence in medical education at every stage of the medical continuum.

Navigating Accreditation Across Borders: Webinar Highlights

In May 2026, WFME hosted a free, interactive webinar exploring the role of cross-border accreditation within the WFME Recognition Programme — a topic of growing importance as accrediting agencies expand their international reach.

The session bought together an expert panel featuring Professor David Gordon (WFME Past-President), Programme Managers Jana Cohlová and Barbora Hrabalová, and Carme Edo Ros (Senior Adviser, AQU Catalunya). Together, they provided essential clarity on how accreditation activities are assessed when an agency''s scope extends beyond its home country.

Participants gained practical insights into the criteria that support transparency, collaboration with local authorities, and rigorous quality across both BME and PGME frameworks. AQU Catalunya’s successful work in Iceland offered a compelling real‑world example of cross‑border accreditation in practice.

WFME extends sincere thanks to all participants for their thoughtful contributions to the lively Q&A discussion. 👉 Access the free webinar recording here.

Cross‑Border Accreditation: FAQ Highlights

To support agencies navigating cross‑border accreditation, WFME has published new FAQ guides for both BME and PGME. Below is a preview of some of the key questions addressed:

Basic Medical Education (BME)

Q. What is cross-border accreditation in medical education?

Cross-border accreditation refers to the evaluation and accreditation of medical education programmes or institutions conducted by an agency outside the country or countries in which it was originally established or recognised.

Because legal frameworks, educational systems, and quality assurance requirements vary across countries, WFME treats cross-border accreditation a distinct area requiring additional review.

Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME)

Q: What does WFME recognise — accrediting agencies or postgraduate medical education institutions/programmes?

WFME recognises accrediting agencies, not individual postgraduate medical education institutions or programmes.

Recognition confirms that an agency’s standards, policies, procedures, and decision‑making processes align with internationally accepted principles for PGME accreditation. It does not constitute WFME approval of specific PGME programmes.

Access the full FAQ documents on our website via the links below:
Read the BME Cross-Border FAQ
Read the PGME Cross-Border FAQ

Progress Report: The WFME Declaration Surpasses 300 Signatories

Since its launch, the WFME Declaration on Institutions’ Responsibility to Support Medical Students, Physicians in Postgraduate Education, and Physicians in Practice has continued to mobilise the global medical community.

We are proud to share that the Declaration has now surpassed 300 signatories, including leading universities, teaching hospitals, professional associations, and individual advocates — a powerful demonstration of shared commitment to supporting medical learners throughout their careers.

What’s Next for the Declaration?

As promised, we are beginning a 2026 impact assessment. Over the coming months, we will be reaching out to signatories to gather feedback, evaluate institutional impact, and compile examples of best practice in supporting the wellbeing and professional development of medical learners worldwide.