MEAMA meeting - first session

Correspondence:
Sijmen Duursma, University Medical Center, Utrecht University Hospital, p/a Koperslagershoek-21, 3981-SB-Bunnik, 
Phone: +31 30 656 3111
email: Sijmen.Duursma@wanadoo.nl

Abstract:
The first session of the Middle-East Academy for Medicine of Ageing, the MEAMA, started with a focus on demographic aspects in the region and the problems the participants meet in their own countries related to the services for health related problems in older people. Also several medical topics were discussed. The MEAMA uses the methods of the EAMA, which have been proven to be attractive for participants and speakers. In the discussions the question was raised how to start the process to develop and enhance the services. It was suggested to start with the organization of national societies and interact with neighbouring countries before presenting measures needed at the national level. The MEAMA might be an excellent forum for the discussion how to stimulate the development of the services for older people in the Middle-East area.

Introduction
During a symposium in 2001 in Ain Wazein, in the mountain area of Lebanon, a discussion was started about the current situation and the demographic expectation for the Middle-East area and the health related problems regarding the needs for the rapidly increasing number of older people. Here the initiative was born to start a Middle-East Academy for Medicine of Ageing,  the MEAMA. From October 2^nd through 5^th , 2003, the first session of the first course of the MEAMA was organized in Tripoli, Lebanon. Background of the course was to create an opportunity to stimulate the development of services for health related problems in older people in the Middle-East area. A  description of the goals and the methods of the MEAMA will be given with a short comment regarding the first session.

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Goals and methods
The main goal of the MEAMA is to stimulate the development of the services for health related problems in older people in the Middle-East area. In some countries initiatives have been started in the community and the second goal is to enhance these services and to harmonize these services across the Middle-East area. In this process interaction with leading countries in geriatric medicine is necessary. The mission of the MEAMA is to train interested physicians, leading nurses and health officers, to enhance their competence and increase their level of knowledge, communication skills and teaching skills. A network between the interested persons is essential to exchange ideas and harmonize services, education and training programmes. For the strategy the MEAMA has adopted the methods of the European Academy for Medicine of Ageing ^{1, 2}. These methods have been proven to be successful and attractive for both the participants of the courses as well as for the teachers. To increase knowledge well known teachers are invited to present state-of-the-art lectures. Besides the transfer of knowledge the discussions between teachers and participants will contribute to increase the level of knowledge and understanding. Another step in this process is the presentations of state-of-the-art lectures by the participants and the topics to be discussed in small groups. Participation in the discussions with the teachers and in the groups discussions and chairing and reporting these discussions will enhance the communication skills. Teaching skills are influenced by the presentations of the state-of-the-art lectures by the participants. About two months before a session will start, participants receive a subject for preparation of a state-of-the-art lecture and make an abstract with a limited number of well chosen references. All activities are evaluated and each of the participants has a tutor for individual evaluation after the presentation of his or her lecture, or after chairing or reporting a group’s discussion. The members of the executive board are the tutors and they have to participate in the whole session of the course. The participants subscribe not just for one session, but for the course of four sessions with an interval of about six months. To come back and meet the same colleagues from former sessions is essential to exchange ideas and build up the feeling of working together and to participate in a network of colleagues with comparable interests. A limited number with a maximum of about 35 participants can be managed for this type of courses. Bringing them together during the course, lunchtime and diner and accommodating participants, board members and teachers at one location highly contributes to the interactions between all participating persons. In this way an optimal profit of a course can be obtained.