Vol. 32 (2025): Social Accountability for Medical and Allied Health Faculties in Action: Institutional Alignment, Accreditation Standards, and Access Models

Dear Reader,

As we conclude the second iteration of the Social Accountability Fellowship, we can’t help but reflect on how much has been achieved in a mere two years. The idea for a Social Accountability Fellowship grew out of TUFH’s 40+ years of dedication to Social Accountability for Medical Schools AND the International Social Accountability and Accreditation Steering Committee (ISAASC), which identified the need for programs such as this to act as catalysts for change. The work of ISAASC and the Social Accountability Fellowship is centered upon strengthening and supporting health education to align their work in furtherance of the needs of their communities. This work would not be possible without partnerships and collaborations with academic institutes and global health organizations. We are grateful for TUFH, NOSM University, the Dr. Gilles Arcand Centre for Health Equity, and the Social Sciences and Health Research Council of Canada’s Connection Grant Program, whose support made this fellowship possible.

In the last two years, 34 fellows have completed the program, from 21 different countries. To help support the continued work of the fellows, TUFH launched a new program this year, focused on creating Centers of Excellence. The goal of these centers is to build upon and scale up the work of the fellowship and to support fellows as they take what they have learned and apply it within their own countries. The articles in this edition reflect the work that is happening and the future goals to be achieved, organized into the following sections:

Institutional Social Accountability Journey

• “Advancing Social Accountability in a State University Offering a Medical Scholarship and Return Service Program in the Philippines”
• “Integrating Social Accountability into Health Professions Education in Nigeria”
• “Integrating Social Accountability in Medical School Accreditation Standards in Uganda”
• “Establishing a Centre of Excellence for Social Accountability in Health at Universiti Malaya: A Scalable Innovation in Health Professions Education”
• “Reimagining Accreditation: Building Community Accountability into Medical Education Systems”
• “Advocating for Socially Accountable Teaching and Language Resources for Australian medical educators”
• “Towards Equity in Health: Integration of Institutional Self-Assessment Tool (ISAT) Indicators in the National Accreditation System of Medical Schools in Sudan”
• “ISAT in Action: A Social Accountability Investigation of Ahfad University for Women’s Medical Education”

Policy Influence

• “Social Accountability as a Core Accreditation Criterion for Medical Education Programs in Egypt: A Policy Brief”
• “Embedding Social Accountability Standards in MBRSG to Advance Inclusive and Transparent Public Policy Education”
• “Advocating for a Socially Accountable Package of Care for Adults Hospitalized with Tuberculosis in the Western Cape, South Africa: A Policy Brief”
• “Advocating for Honours Psychology Students to Engage in Service-learning for Access and Provision of Mental Health Care: A South African Case.”
• “Strengthening Zambia’s Healthcare System through Legislative Reforms”

Increasing Access to Care and Integrated Care Models

• “Enhancing Community Access to Health Resources through Student-Driven Mapping and Engagement in Bajo Boulogne, Argentina”
• “Co-Creating a Socially Responsive Palliative Care Curriculum: Lessons from Stakeholder Engagement in Malawi”
• “UNAM Adopt a Community Program: Education in Practice: Mexico”

In today’s world, it is easy to lose faith-the challenges we face can seem insurmountable. It is through action and cooperation that we sustain our collective hope. It is our wish that in reading these articles, you experience a renewed sense of optimism for the future. The determination, passion, and fortitude of this cohort of learners is evident on every page.

Ghislaine Attema       

Social Accountability Coordinator, TUFH

Nicholas Torres

President, TUFH