RIYADH — A group of 10 to 15 Saudi doctors will have a chance for specialist training in Germany as Charité Hospital in Berlin is preparing its fourth intake of participants.

Under the program, the Saudi doctors will study and work for 6 to 7 years at the prestigious hospital beginning September. All of the candidates have finished their medical studies and some have even gained a few years of work experience.

The program was first launched in 2015 upon the initiative of then Saudi Ambassador in Berlin Dr. Osama Abdul Majed Shobokshi and Charité Hospital.

On Jan. 11-12, Deputy Medical Director of Charité Dr. Joachim Seybold, who is the director of the program, held meetings at the ministries of education and health and interviewed interested doctors in Riyadh. Potential participants were informed about the structure of the program, the financial and administrative support they will receive and had a question-and-answer session with one of the doctors already in the program on life and work in Berlin.

In Berlin, the Saudi doctors spend their first year studying the German language in a small group with program participants only.

Charité has organized a special in-house language course to cater to the needs of the participants with a focus on communication training for doctors.

Unlike other language students, medical students are required to familiarize themselves with medical vocabulary, which they will apply in hospital and clinical environments later on. The small group size and the shared circumstances motivate the doctors and create a very effective and productive environment. In a few months many doctors have acquired the skills to communicate in everyday life.

Charité University Hospital, which recently marked its 300th anniversary, is currently the largest university hospital in Europe. Throughout its history, Charité has been dedicated to research, teaching and medical care.

Extending over four campuses across the German capital, Charité hosts 103 clinics and 3,000 hospital beds. It has approximately 13,200 employees, including 3,700 researchers and physicians. In addition, about 7,000 medical students, including Saudis, are enrolled at Charité providing a stimulating learning environment for doctors participating in the program. — SG