A number of conferences and workshops has been held to foster the development of the Patan Academy of Health Sciences. These meetings are collaborative efforts between supporters of PAHS from Nepal and from other countries throughout the world. The outcomes of the conferences have provided a strong foundation upon which PAHS is building.

First Consultative Meeting
The first major meeting for the medical school project was held from 24 to 26 October, 2005 in Kathmandu and Nagarkot. Several faculty members of medical schools and universities in Canada, USA, and Israel attended, along with the members of the Medical School Steering Committee and representatives of most of the clinical departments of Patan Hospital. 

The meeting attendees discussed the challenges that they would face and devised a strategic plan to overcome these obstacles. They also established a plan to promote effective future collaboration between local supporters of the medical school and international partners of the project. Some participants in the meeting met with the Minister of Education and officials of the Nepal Medical Council, which oversees medical education in Nepal.

Curriculum Development Workshop
Sam Leinster, Dean of the University of East Anglia School of Medicine, came to Nepal to lead a workshop in curriculum development. The workshop was held at Dakshinkali, from 27 February to 1 March, 2006. Dr. Leinster shared his experiences with innovative medical curricula and progressive learning methods. He also gave presentations on topics such as the assessment of students, curriculum planning, theories of teaching and learning, and general guidance about starting a new medical school. With Dr. Leinster’s help and guidance, the supporters of the medical school project took the first major steps towards planning the novel curriculum of PAHS.

Second Consultative Meeting
The international supporters of the project, who had now formed the International Advisory Board, attended a second consultative meeting with the Nepali supporters of the project at Dakshinkali from 29 October to 3 November, 2006. The participants created a concrete plan for the medical school that includes encouraging rural paramedics to enroll, committing to providing a number of scholarships every year, and implementing a curriculum that focuses on Problem-Based Learning (PBL).

The International Advisory Board agreed to contribute to curriculum development and to recruit qualified people from outside of Nepal who can become volunteer faculty at the medical school. Another important accomplishment of this meeting was the creation of the Mission Statement and Goals of the institution. Furthermore, in meetings with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Education, and representatives of other government agencies, the project received strong support. 

Curriculum Development Workshop
A curriculum development workshop led by David Cook was held at Patan Hospital from 18 to 22 August, 2007. Over 30 people attended, many of whom are will become faculty members of PAHS. Throughout the workshop, the attendees contributed to creating a draft of the general structure of the PAHS curriculum. With Dr. Cook’s guidance, they also developed policies for student assessment in all parts of the curriculum and evaluation of teaching, and plans for faculty development and student admissions. Finally, the group identified a number of issues that remained to be addressed.

Approval by the Cabinet
The Cabinet of the government of Nepal endorsed the establishment of PAHS in principle on 20 August, 2007. This important measure made it possible for PAHS to become a legal, accredited institution of higher education.

Third PAHS Consultative Meeting
On 11 to 15 October, 2007 in Patan and Nagarkot, the third Consultative Meeting took place. The majority of the PAHS International Advisory Board attended, as well as members of the PAHS National Advisory Board, staff of Patan Hospital, and other supporters of PAHS from Nepal and abroad. The goals of the meeting were to review the status of the academy and its challenges, prepare a more concrete plan to realize the PAHS vision, and define the roles of the National and International Advisory Boards in the development and operation of PAHS. 

Meeting participants shared the progress that had been made in the areas of curriculum development, faculty recruitment, fundraising, infrastructure development, the role that research will play at PAHS, and the importance of community health in the curriculum. They also discussed plans for future progress and a timeline for enrolling students. The international supporters of PAHS promised to provide needed basic science faculty, as well as to work to raise money for the project and try to provide assistance in any other way necessary. Furthermore, the Prime Minister and Health Minister affirmed their support for the mission of the Patan Academy of Health Sciences.  

Training in Problem-Based Learning
Immediately following the third Consultative Meeting, Carol-Ann Courneya provided training for future PAHS faculty in the implementation of Problem-Based Learning. This innovative learning technique is an essential component of the PAHS curriculum. From 16 to 17 October, 2007, Dr. Courneya trained people to be tutors for groups of students learning through PBL, which was a novel experience for many of the attendees. On 18 October, the participants learned about writing PBL cases that accomplish the course objectives, and practiced this skill by creating cases of their own.