Projects

The Joint Commission of the Swiss Medical Schools (SMIFK-CIMS) plays an important role in shaping medical education through its direct and indirect involvement in various national projects, aimed at enhancing the quality and effectiveness of medical training, and also in optimal public health and patient safety. Directly, SMIFK-CIMS oversees that medical faculties meet the same teaching objectives across the country, ensuring that they meet the rigorous standards that have been set for future physicians. Indirectly, SMIFK-CIMS collaborates with a range of stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, professional associations, healthcare institutions, and other groups, to support initiatives that promote innovation in medical education. Thereby, SMIFK is significantly involved in guaranteeing optimal healthcare for the Swiss population. Through these efforts, SMIFK-CIMS ensures that medical education in Switzerland remains dynamic, interprofessional, responsive to contemporary challenges, and aligned with global best practices.

Current projects:

  • “Physicians of the Future” Platform (DE/FR/IT): As an active member of the “Physicians of the Future” FOPH platform, SMIFK-CIMS contributes to the ongoing advancement of longitudinal medical education. The platform addresses emerging themes such as digitalization and artificial intelligence, while also building on key topics like interprofessional education and collaboration.

  • Primary Care Agenda (DE/FR/IT): The FOPH Primary Care Agenda aims to ensure ongoing access to high-quality primary care throughout Switzerland by supporting long-term solutions and implementing targeted measures to address the shortage of qualified professionals. SMIFK-CIMS, represented by its presidency, plays an active role in this initiative, contributing its expertise alongside other key stakeholders in primary care.

  • Evaluation of MedBG/LPSan (DE): The Federal Act on University Medical Professions, in law since 2007, regulates education, licensing, and professional practice for university-based medical professions across Switzerland. Its goal is to ensure high-quality training and healthcare services in response to evolving challenges such as population aging and chronic diseases. Following revisions between 2015 and 2020, a feasibility study was completed in 2023 to prepare for a comprehensive evaluation of the law and identify areas for improvement.

  • National Exam Commission (DE/FR/IT): The National Exam Commission for Medicine oversees the federal licensing examination for medical graduates in Switzerland, ensuring consistent standards for entry into the medical profession. Starting in 2028, the exam will be based on the updated PROFILES 2023 framework.

  • EPA App (DE/FR): As part of the ongoing reform of postgraduate medical training in Switzerland, which includes the introduction of Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs), the SIWF/ISFM is developing an EPA app – a digital tool for structured, computer-assisted documentation. The app enables the recording of individual EPA observations and supports summative decisions on entrustment levels, contributing to the assessment process for obtaining a federal medical specialty title.

  • Quality Medical Educators Label: The SIWF/ISFM’s “Quality Medical Educators” project aims to establish a national certification for medical educators in Switzerland. As a first step, the Swiss Medical Education Compass (DE/FR) was developed following a comprehensive review of existing courses to map out their content and recognition status. In parallel, a working group with representatives from SMIFK-CIMS and SIWF developed a final document that was already accepted by the executive board of SIWF (Vorstand).

  • Journée de Réflexion: The Journée de réflexion is an annual event organized by the SIWF/ISFM and the Collège des Doyens, each year focusing on a specific theme. It brings together around forty participants from both pre- and postgraduate medical education, fostering rich discussions and exchanges that highlight diverse perspectives from experts in the field.

  • White Paper on Medical Education and Students (EN): The Collège des Doyens, in collaboration with the SMIFK-CIMS, SIWF/ISFM, vsao/asmac, and swimsa, has authored a comprehensive white paper examining the continuum of medical education. The document addresses key aspects including admission to medical studies, the structure and content of the medical curriculum itself, and the critical transition phase into postgraduate training.