RIYADH: Alfaisal University in Riyadh hosted the annual Health Promotion Project Exhibition on Thursday to showcase innovative projects and celebrate the work of first-year medical students.
Boasting the theme “Harmony in Healthcare: A Culture of Patient Safety,” the exhibition aimed to promote awareness and innovation in fostering safer healthcare environments.
Inspired by recommendations from the World Health Organization’s patient safety meeting, and organized by the Saudi Patient Safety Center, this year’s theme emphasized the critical importance of embedding a culture of safety within healthcare systems.
Through creative presentations, students addressed key issues in patient safety, quality of care, and enhancing the overall patient experience.
The exhibition not only highlighted the creativity and dedication of Alfaisal University’s students but also reinforced the institution’s commitment to advancing healthcare standards and promoting a culture of safety across all levels of care.
Dr. Baraa Alghalyini, chair, Department of Family and Community Medicine, and vice dean, College of Medicine, told Arab News: “Today marks the 12th edition of the Health Promotion Project exhibition, organized by the College of Medicine’s Department of Family and Community Medicine at Alfaisal University. This journey, which began years ago, has evolved into a cornerstone event that connects medical education with community engagement.”
In alignment with Saudi Vision 2030, which emphasized support for research, an educational revolution and public health awareness, this exhibition represented the commitment to these national goals, Alghalyini said.
“Over the years, we have engaged students in diverse health promotion themes, enabling them to create interactive, student-led booths that provide public education for various community members, from high school students to health care professionals,” she said.
This year’s theme, “Harmony in Care: Patient Safety,” was particularly timely, aligning with both national priorities and World Health Organization initiatives, Alghalyini said.
“Our aim is to prepare the next generation of health care providers to understand and implement patient safety principles, eventually internalizing these practices to make them second nature for them.”
In addition to being a graded project, the display booths would be evaluated by judges, and the top three would be awarded, Alghalyini said.
The HPP exhibition had consistently attracted experts in relevant disciplines to serve as judges, creating valuable networking opportunities for faculty, staff and students.
“These relationships have strengthened our educational mission and provided our students with invaluable insights from industry leaders,” she said.
Lana Hossari, a first-year medical student participating in the exhibition, told Arab News: “This exhibition is very beneficial for us because we are raising awareness, not just from a local perspective but also a worldwide perspective.
“We are not only talking about developed countries, but developing countries and how they deal with scary situations such as power outages and how we can all work together as a community to help improve the situation.
“I believe that every student who is interested in medicine should attend this event and learn about this because it is a very important topic in today’s society and in today’s world.”
Nour Alatassi, another first-year medical student, told Arab News: “We have an incredible project at our university. This is a series about patient safety, which is a very important topic.
“Here we are talking about patient safety using AI. What happens to our patients in a power outage? There are so many topics that our colleagues are presenting for us. Coming here you get to learn so much that is new, so many new ideas and information to keep our patients safe.
“When you visit a hospital, you feel safer knowing that your doctors and your future doctors know what to do in emergency situations. This is an amazing topic to focus the brilliant minds of young students.”
The exhibition proved an engaging experience for those attending, featuring interactive and hands-on activities for active learning.
Visitors could also participate in games and simulations designed to highlight best practices in patient safety and healthcare protocols.
These activities aimed to provide valuable insights into safety measures and innovative strategies, equipping participants with a deeper understanding of how to improve patient outcomes.
Beyond the educational aspect, the event also presented a valuable networking opportunity, bringing together healthcare professionals, students, academic leaders, and community members.
This collaborative environment fostered meaningful discussions on improving patient care and safety within the healthcare sector.
