By Sama Marwan,
A new book titled “Learning Medicine Through the Learning Process” by Dr. Mohamed Abdel Rahman El-Abd has been published by Pharos Publishing House. The book’s summary highlights that learning medicine is about acquiring clinical competencies that ensure effective patient care.
For decades, medical education strategies have focused on transmitting knowledge from past generations to the present, an approach that is less than ideal given the nature of learning and the demands of modern healthcare practices.
According to Dr. El-Abd, learning medicine is influenced by multiple factors, including pre-university education systems, societal standards, the structure of medical education, and the strategies of continuous healthcare training. Teaching medicine is described as a “true adventure” for educators who must have a dual scientific background in the subject as well as the necessary behavioral and educational competencies.
The book “LEARNING MEDICINE ALONG THE LEARNING PROCESS” emphasizes the behavioral aspects of learning medicine. It is divided into four sections and three appendices, designed to balance the questions and concepts relevant to medical learning:
- General Introduction
- Characteristics of Medical Learning
- Behavioral Aspects Related to Learning
- Educational Planning for Learning Medicine
Each section is structured following the dual-page principle, where text appears on the left page and illustrations or quotes on the right, facilitating dual mental processing for better conceptual understanding of medical learning.
Dr. El-Abd hopes that the book will help bridge the gap between the conceptual nature of learning and the practical aspects of medical practice, thus enhancing the “professional formation” of the medical mind.
About Dr. Mohamed Abdel Rahman El-Abd
Dr. Mohamed Abdel Rahman El-Abd is a professor of Physical Medicine (diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of movement disorders) at the Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University.
- Graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine from Alexandria University in 1962.
- Earned a Doctorate in his specialty from the Free University of Berlin in 1970.
- In 1973, he was sent to the University of Illinois, USA, where he studied educational sciences and obtained a Master’s degree in 1974, with a thesis titled “Thinking and Learning”.
- Progressed in academia to become a Distinguished Professor of Physical Medicine and Medical Education.
- Has a special interest in sports as a key aspect of cognitive function.
Sports Achievements & Recognition
Alongside his academic pursuits, Dr. El-Abd has actively participated in swimming, athletics, and water polo competitions, representing Egyptian national teams.
- He was honored by President Gamal Abdel Nasser in 1965 as the Best Arab Athlete during the Fifth Arab Sports Games in Cairo.
Contributions to Medical Education
Dr. El-Abd has published two books focusing on cognitive mechanisms in learning and practicing medicine and has written multiple articles in Al-Ahram newspaper addressing education and learning issues.
Despite being one of Egypt’s distinguished scholars, Dr. El-Abd, now 85 years old (born in 1940 in Tanta), has not received the full recognition he deserves for his contributions to medical education and academia. However, his sports achievements and honors from President Nasser remain a testament to his exceptional legacy.
