Future Directions of Rheumatology Training According to Saudi Vision 2030: Recommendations From a Saudi Experts Meeting

Rania Zaini,1 Ali Alrehaily,2,3 Ahmed Alhazmi,4,5 Hussein Halabi,6 Heba Mohamed,7 Hani Almoallim8,9 1Department of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Alqura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Medicine, Security Forces Hospital Program, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Chairman of the Scientific Committee of Adult Rheumatology Fellowship Program, Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Medicine, King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital (KFAFH), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 5Chairman, Supervisory Committee for Saudi Board Adult Rheumatology Fellowship Program in Western Region, Saudi Commission For Health Specialties (SCFHS), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital And Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 7Pfizer Biopharmaceutical Group, Emerging Markets, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 8Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Alqura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; 9Alzaidi Chair of Research in Rheumatic Diseases, Umm Alqura University, Makkah, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Hani Almoallim 6604 Gais Bin Doraih, Alnaeem, Jeddah 23621-3514, Saudi ArabiaEmail hmmoallim@uqu.edu.saBackground: Worldwide research anticipates that a current shortage of rheumatologists will exacerbate over the next decade, whereas the need for arthritis specialists will continue to escalate. Saudi Arabia (SA) also encounters a limited geographical distribution of rheumatologists and rheumatology fellowship training centres.Objective: Reporting the Saudi rheumatologists’ advisory meeting conducted in Makkah, SA in January 2020 with the aim to discuss the “Saudi Vision 2030” for rheumatology training programs.Materials and Methods: A meeting of Saudi rheumatology experts and consultants was conducted to address the future directions, challenges, and recommendations of rheumatology training. The 10th Rheumatology Practice Symposium was organised by Alzaidi Chair of Research in Rheumatic Diseases (ZCRD), and conducted in Makkah Commerce Chamber, Makkah, SA on January 28, 2020. More than 30 consultants and rheumatology fellows with five Saudi experts in the field of rheumatology assembled to form 10 recommendations that tackle rheumatology training challenges in SA.Results: The meeting recommendations shed light on the clinical practice of rheumatology training in SA; challenges and opportunities in rheumatology fellowship programs; efforts of the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) to design and implement a competent postgraduate rheumatology training; and challenges with trainers, trainee, and within training centres.Conclusion: To address rheumatology challenges in SA, rheumatology consultants and fellows assembled to form 10 recommendations. The recommendations tackled the challenges of rheumatology fellowship programs and the efforts to implement a competent postgraduate rheumatology training. These recommendations are expected to lead us successfully to fulfil our ambition in the “Saudi Vision of 2030”.Keywords: rheumatology, residents, Saudi, fellowship, training, training program