Last week two key events took place that celebrated a unique academic collaboration between Oxford’s Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine and the New Giza University Hospital in Egypt, the first-of-its-kind in the Middle East and Africa.
After two years of efforts, DPhil in Evidence-Based Health Care (EBHC) alumna Dr Ranin Soliman and Director of the MSc in EBHC Teaching and Education Dr David Nunan signed a Memorandum of Understanding in London on Tuesday 28 April under the auspices of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Egypt, HE Professor Abdelaziz Konsowa, and the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the United Kingdom, HE Ambassador Ashraf Swelam. The event was also attended by the Head of the Nuffield Department Primary Care Health Sciences Professor Sir Aziz Sheikh and CEBM Director Professor Carl Heneghan.
Ceremony event for the academic collaboration between CEBM, University of Oxford and New Giza University Hospital to officially establish the Oxford Egypt Evidence-Based Healthcare Alliance
Speaking about the partnership, Dr Ranin Soliman said:
‘For me, creating the Oxford–Egypt EBHC Alliance is a dream coming true. In fact, in my original DPhil application from 2017/18, I stated that my career goals were to translate my knowledge into action for the great good by establishing a centre for excellence for Evidence-Based Healthcare based in Egypt. I believed then – and still do today – that the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region is in urgent need for a health care transformation, particularly for countries where resources are tightly constrained.
So, I am super-excited to take the first steps to advance EBHC education, research and practice in Egypt.’
Dr Ranin Soliman pictured at the Oxford-Egypt EBHC Alliance event, Kellogg College
At Kellogg College on Thursday 30th April, in an inspiring seminar led by Dr Soliman and Dr Nunan, both spoke about their personal journeys that brought them together to form the Oxford-Egypt EBHC Alliance, and being personally motivated by Evidence-Based Healthcare pioneers Professor David Sackett, Sir Muir Gray and Professor Carl Heneghan.
Dr Nunan said that it was a one-day intro course led by Professor Paul Glasziou, the Centre’s Director from 2003-2010, which encouraged him to pursue an academic career in this area. The original vision of the Centre was to collaborate with other scientists, share expertise and inspiration, and encourage a growing movement in the UK and around the world.
Dr Nunan then showed a map of locations where the work of the Centre has been introduced, with the most recent addition being in Egypt.
Dr David Nunan speaking at the Oxford-Egypt EBHC Alliance event, Kellogg College
Dr Soliman then spoke about her own journey from DPhil applicant to student – and the unexpected challenges of Covid and becoming a mum of twins just before submission of her dissertation. Now an alumna of the programme, her overall aim is to work towards advancing EBHC in Egypt and the MEA region and healthcare sustainability.
Dr Soliman outlined the aims of the Alliance, which are to:
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build EBHC leadership and capacity in Egypt
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deliver education and training for researchers, clinicians, and students
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develop tools and resources to support evidence synthesis and local decision-making
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conduct and disseminate high-quality research with relevance to policy and practice
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explore postgraduate programmes, workshops, and academic exchange opportunities
Dr Ranin Soliman speaking at the Oxford-Egypt EBHC Alliance event, Kellogg College
The last speaker was Centre Director, Professor Carl Heneghan, who talked about the early days of the Centre and the first degree awarded in 1997. Since then, 1,262 have been awarded and over 1,000 academics have been trained in Evidence-Based Health Care.
He believed it was important that ‘someone come in with a dream and leave with that dream intact.’
This new partnership is the latest in a series for the CEBM that includes Brazil and Lithuania, which demonstrates the growing influence of teaching and research in this area, with the purpose of building a sustainable, research-driven healthcare, guided by transparent and trusted evidence.
Special thanks go to Dr Tarek Moharram, without whose efforts the collaboration wouldn't have been possible. The collaboration also reflects the commitment of New Giza University’s leadership, led by Professor Sameh Farid, President of New Giza University, to advancing medical education and research in Egypt.