Sustainable Clinical Academic Training Pathways: A framework for implementation in Oman

Clinical academics—medical doctors with additional training in basic science or clinical research—play a pivotal role in translating biomedical research into practical bedside applications. However, international studies suggest that the proportion of clinical academics relative to the medical workforce is dwindling worldwide. Although efforts to reverse this trend are ongoing in many countries, there is little perceptible dialogue concerning these issues in Oman. This article explores the current status of clinical academic training pathways worldwide, concluding with a framework for the implementation of a dual-degree medical-research training programme in Oman in order to stimulate and develop a sustainable national clinical academic workforce.Keywords: Training Programs; Undergraduate Medical Education; Graduate Medical Education; Internship and Residency; Medical Students; Research; Oman

A Phonological Awareness Test in Arabic Language for Young Learners: Validation Study

A wide variety of tests measures phonemic and phonological awareness in different languages. There are very few tools of phonemic and phonological awareness in Arabic language. Such tools help to identify students’ weaknesses and strengths especially in early stages of their schooling for better instruction and intervention. Although Arabic phonetically maps between letters and sounds, it is not an easy language to read because of challenges inherent to the structure of the language itself. This paper explores a validation study of Arabic phonological awareness tests for kindergartners and first graders in Oman. Two different tests of phonological awareness and common skills were developed for two samples: kindergartners (n = 113) and first graders (n = 70). Results support the validity and reliability of the two tests and suggest that they can be used as diagnostic tools to identify children with low phonological awareness and help initiate appropriate reading intervention programs for them