The President of the University Dr. Abdullah Al Rubaish mentioned that “It is no longer possible to consider universities only as an educational institution which aims at graduating cadres and competencies or to consider research centers established only to execute specialized academic researches. As well as that, it is not possible that a university can be detached from its surrounding environment. Therefore, it has been taken for granted that a university is a part of its surrounding community and that the real reason behind establishing universities is to serve the community.
This speech was during the inauguration of the 12th Family Practice Forum and its exhibition which was organized by the Family and Community Medicine Department in the University of Dammam titled “Family Practice, the Ultimate Solution”. The forum was held on 20 Jumada II 1437 H and it continued for two days in Le Meriden Al Khobar. The forum was attended by Prof. Zohair A. Sebai one of the Family and Community Medicine pioneers in the Kingdom, the first dean of the College of Medicine, and head of the Family and Community Medicine Department in Boston University, the current Dean of the College of Medicine Dr. Ali Al Sultan and a number of Family and Community Medicine specialists.
Dr. Abdullah Al Rubaish said that “Educational policy specialists and their administrations have been highly involved in the relationship between higher education institutions and their surrounding communities in order to elevate the performance of these institutes, to actuate their contributions in serving the community, to respond to their requirements and to have a clear communication system between universities and their local communities by providing a number of activities and services and other related issues such as studies and consultations. Nevertheless, this is not an optional choice anymore, it has become a strategic and imperative goal which has been laid down by a number of variables. The concern of universities towards serving the community and its individuals this is now considered one of the important factors that help in earning the trust of the community and the public opinion and will be a key factor in raising the position of universities either in classifications or academic accreditation.
Prof. Sameeh M. Al-Almaie, head of the Family and Community Medicine Department and Director of the Organizing Committee mentioned that “This forum was held due to the new phase which the Kingdom is witnessing where the health service structure is being reconstructed to uplift the level of its services. The Kingdom has recently adopted a national transformation program that aims at upgrading the services provided to citizens and most notably in the health field in order to reinforce general health concepts, first aid health care, to strengthen patient wellbeing, to uplift operating efficiency, to support the work of governmental and private sectors, to support the Kingdom’s local citizens’ pharmaceutical production and medical supplies as well as providing health insurance for every citizen, and supporting privatization of institutions. This concept has come about due to the increasing rate of health care services which has become a financial burden on individuals or families. Consequently many organizations have reconstructed their health service structure in order to cope with the new health economic reality which imposes social responsibility through providing low priced and highly qualified health services.
