The Royal College has been quietly assisting in the reconstruction of Afghanistan’s residency education system, devastated by years of war, by supplying members of the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan (NTM-A) with educational materials and advice to appropriately modernize the country’s training programs.

“These efforts are essential for the training of Afghan physicians in medical and surgical specialties, to ensure a healthy future for the people of Afghanistan,” says Major Vivian McAlister, MD, FRCSC, member of Royal College Council and NTM-A participant.

The capacity-building initiative is supported on the ground by the NTM-A team, which includes numerous Fellows of the Royal College, who advise their Afghan counterparts on ways they can lead advances in the country’s health care system.

As part of these efforts, Dr. Emal Wardak, an orthopedic surgeon from the Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital in Kabul, was presented with a special Royal College speaker certificate during the Orthopaedic Society of Afghanistan 2012 trauma symposium, for his lecture on the evolution of fracture management.

This goodwill gesture was to officially recognize and promote leveraging local knowledge as the rebuilding process progresses.

“In any international endeavor, it is important to recognize that one-size does not fit all and that collaboration is key. I am proud to say that we have been collaborating in every sense with our colleagues in Kabul to map out a resident training system that is appropriate to their needs and that makes use of their expertise,” adds Dr. McAlister.