CLINICAL SKILLS INTEGRATION
OUM Appoints Associate Director for Clinical Skills Education

Oceania University of Medicine (OUM) has appointed Ramesh Gopalakrishnan, MBBS as the medical school’s Associate Director for Clinical Skills Education.

Working with Paula Diamante, MD, Director of Faculty Affairs and Lead Clinical Course Director, Dr. Ramesh will oversee clinical skills training of all OUM pre-clinical students during both e-Foundation and System-Based Modules. In addition to overseeing curriculum design and delivery, he will also monitor student assessment, workload, and progress.

“The teacher in me came out during my residency. I really enjoyed working with medical students and developed a true passion for teaching,” says Dr. Ramesh, adding how rewarding it was to eventually be involved in curriculum development. “Curriculum is all about driving tomorrow’s physicians,” he says.

After spending several years at Hewlett Packard training practicing physicians on new ultrasound technologies, Dr. Ramesh returned to teaching medical students and working on curriculum development at universities in the UAE, India, China, and Malaysia. Concurrently, he continued to provide locum primary care services, eventually building a strong community practice focused on primary, preventive, and palliative care.

Dr. Ramesh earned his MBBS from Government Medical College/Calicut University in Kozhikode, Kerala, India and his Master of Surgery (Branch: Anatomy) from Pondicherry University in Kalapet, Puducherry, India. He earned additional diplomas in Family Medicine and Musculoskeletal Ultrasound, completed advanced training in Sonography and Healthcare Management, and obtained Palliative Care Physician certification.

“OUM’s way of thinking aligns very well with mine. A strong foundation is essential to gain clinical acumen and expertise. I’ve always thought teaching clinical skills early was very important,” says Dr. Ramesh, who will also co-coordinate the medical school’s Day-One Clinical Skills Course.