ECCES 2026 — International Conference on Medical Education

Programme

Advancing Medical Education: Internationalization, Innovation, and Academic Success

12–13 October 2026 Biltmore Hotel Tbilisi Tbilisi, Georgia

All times are Tbilisi local time (UTC+4).

Download programme (PDF)

Location

Biltmore Hotel Tbilisi, Tbilisi, Georgia

Main Dates

12–13 October 2026

Format

Keynotes, Workshops, Networking

Day 1 — 12 October 2026

Welcome & Opening

08:30–09:00

Registration

Registration; Preparing exhibitions

Conference Team

VenueFoyer / Exhibition

09:00–10:30

Official Opening

Official Opening Ceremony

VenueBiltmore Ballroom

Global Health Professions Education – Strategy, Partnerships & Local Context

10:30–10:50

Keynote

Global Health Professions Education, Strategic Academic Development & Partnerships

Prof. Emiola Oluwabunmi Olapade-Olaopa, FAS, FNAMed, FAMedS

President-Elect, World Federation for Medical Education (WFME)

VenueBiltmore Ballroom

10:50–11:10

Keynote

Looking at Educational Partnerships through the One Health and Sustainable Development Goals Lens

Prof. Janusz Janczukowicz, MD, PhD

President, AMEE – The International Association for Health Professions Education Ltd

Head of the Centre for Medical Education and Vice Dean for the Development of Education; Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz

VenueBiltmore Ballroom

11:10–11:30

Keynote

Globalization versus Diversity: Are They Two Sides of the Coin?

Prof. Mary Jo Lechowicz

Professor and Vice Chair for Education, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology; Margaret H. Rollins Chair in Cancer, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University

VenueBiltmore Ballroom

11:30–11:50

Invited Plenary Talk

Georgian Perspective on Higher Education

Lasha Margishvili

Director, National Center of Education Quality Enhancement, Georgia

VenueBiltmore Ballroom

11:50–12:20

Coffee & networking

Quality, Excellence & Academic Culture in Medical Education

12:20–12:40

Keynote

Striving for Excellence in Medical Education: Beyond WFME Recognition and Standards

Prof. Harm Peters

President, AMSE – Association of Medical Schools of Europe

Professor of Medical Education and Medicine; Germany

VenueBiltmore Ballroom

12:40–13:00

Keynote

Does a Curriculum Have a Notochord? The Signals and Forces That Shape a Culture of Learning

Prof. Joe Le Doux

Executive Leader for Education Transformation and Innovation, Emory University School of Medicine

Dean's Education Innovation Professor, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University

VenueBiltmore Ballroom

13:00–13:20

Invited Plenary Talk

Building a Culture of Academic Integrity and Professionalism in Medical Education

Prof. Paul Horrocks

Director of Medical Sciences and Director of Educational Partnership Development; School of Medicine, Keele University, United Kingdom

VenueBiltmore Ballroom

13:20–14:20

Panel Discussion

Quality, Excellence & Readiness in Medical Education: Beyond Standards

Prof. Emiola Oluwabunmi Olapade-Olaopa, FAS, FNAMed, FAMedS

President-Elect, World Federation for Medical Education (WFME)

Prof. Janusz Janczukowicz, MD, PhD

President, AMEE

Prof. Harm Peters

President, AMSE

Professor of Medical Education and Medicine; Germany

Lasha Margishvili

Director, National Center of Education Quality Enhancement, Georgia

Prof. Rusudan Rukhadze

Vice Rector, Tbilisi State Medical University

Prof. Irine Pkhakadze

International Expert in Medical Education; Head of the International Medical Program, Akaki Tsereteli State University

Moderator: Salome Voronovi

Head of AMEE Regional Centre of Excellence in Georgia

Head of Medical Education, Faculty Development & Strategic Planning Department

Tbilisi State Medical University

VenueBiltmore Ballroom

14:20–15:20

Lunch

Internationalization & Intercultural Education – From Mobility to Meaningful Integration

15:20–15:50

Invited Plenary Talk

Cultural Contexts of Illness Narratives

Dr. Michael McQuaide

Professor Emeritus of Sociology; Oxford College of Emory University

VenueBiltmore Ballroom

15:50–16:10

Invited Talk

Internationalization, Global Mobility & Strategic Partnerships

Alejandra Vicencio

Director, International Education Strategy Consultancy; Global Mobility and Partnerships Specialist

VenueBiltmore Ballroom

16:10–16:30

Invited Talk

Training Neurologists Across Cultures: A German Practitioner’s Perspective on Intercultural Competence

PD, Dr. Tim Patrick Jürgens

Chief Physician, Department of Neurology, KMG Klinikum Güstrow

Medical Director, Headache Center North-East, University Medical Center Rostock

First Vice President, German Migraine and Headache Society (DMKG), Germany

VenueBiltmore Ballroom

16:30–16:50

Coffee & networking

16:50–17:50

Panel Discussion

Internationalization as a Driver of Transformative Medical Education

Prof. Mary Jo Lechowicz

Professor and Vice Chair for Education, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology; Margaret H. Rollins Chair in Cancer, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University

Dr. Michael McQuaide

Professor Emeritus of Sociology; Oxford College of Emory University

Prof. Joe Le Doux

Executive Leader for Education Transformation and Innovation, Emory University School of Medicine

Dean's Education Innovation Professor, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University

Alejandra Vicencio

Director, International Education Strategy Consultancy; Global Mobility and Partnerships Specialist

Prof. Rima Beriashvili

Head of Faculty Development and Strategic Planning Division, Tbilisi State Medical University

Prof. Irma Grdzelidze

International Expert in Higher Education, Vice-rector, Alte University

Dr. Paata Tsagareishvili

Vice Dean in Medical Education, David Tvildiani Medical University

Moderator: Nino Shiukashvili

Head of Quality Assurance Department, Ken Walker International University

VenueBiltmore Ballroom

17:50–18:00

Closing

Day 1 Closing & Day 2 Orientation

VenueBiltmore Ballroom

Parallel Off-site Clinical Masterclasses

15:30–18:00

Advanced Cardiology Clinical Masterclass

Advanced Heart Failure: From Complex Management to Mechanical Support and Transplantation

David W. Markham, MD, MSc, FACC

Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology

Target audience: Cardiologists, internal medicine physicians, cardiology residents and fellows, intensive care clinicians, and physicians involved in the management of patients with advanced cardiovascular disease.

Registration closed – full More information

VenueChapidze Emergency Cardiology Center

15:30–18:00

Interactive Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Masterclass

Building Safer Systems: Practical Principles of Quality Improvement and Patient Safety

Bhavin Adhyaru, MD, FACP, SFHM

Associate Professor of Medicine, Emory University; Grady Memorial Hospital

Target audience: Clinicians, healthcare leaders, faculty, quality and patient safety professionals, residents, and healthcare professionals involved in improving clinical systems.

Registration closed – full More information

VenueIngorokva and TSMU High Medical Technology University Clinic

Day 2 — 13 October 2026

Innovation, Readiness & Student Success

08:30–09:00

Registration

Registration; exhibitions open

Conference Team

VenueFoyer / Exhibition

09:00–10:00

Oral Presentations

Faculty Scientific & Medical Education Oral Presentations

  • Curriculum Design & Teaching Innovation
  • Communication, Professionalism & Student Support
  • Global Health, Interprofessional Education & Social Accountability
  • AI, Simulation & Innovative Learning
  • Assessment, Competency & Readiness for Practice

Room 1 – Moderation: Nino Tevzadze, MD, PhD

Deputy Director of American MD Program, Tbilisi State Medical University

Room 6 – Moderation: Kakha Bregvadze, MD

Co-head of MD Program, Tbilisi Medical Academy

Room 7 – Moderation: Maka Zarnadze, MD, PhD

Head of the Continuing Professional Development Office, Tbilisi Medical Academy

Room 8 – Moderation: Mariam Rodonaia, MD

Specialist of Scientific-Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Akaki Tsereteli State University

Room – Amphitheatre – Moderation: Iuri Migriauli, MD, PhD

Head of Education Department, David Tvildiani Medical University

More information

VenueFloor 2: Room 1, Room 6, Room 7, Room 8, Room – Amphitheatre

10:00–10:20

Online Keynote

Preparing Graduates for an Uncertain Future: What Does Readiness for Practice Really Mean?

Prof. Mairi Scott

Emeritus Professor of Medical Education and General Practice; University of Dundee

International Consultant in Medical Education, Quality Assurance and Governance

VenueBiltmore Ballroom – Online

10:20–10:40

Plenary Talk

Advancing Medical Education: The Georgian Perspective

Salome Voronovi, MD, PhD, FAMEE

Head of AMEE Regional Centre of Excellence in Georgia

Head of Medical Education, Faculty Development & Strategic Planning Department

Tbilisi State Medical University

VenueBiltmore Ballroom

10:40–11:00

Plenary Talk

Obstacles to Student Success

Gordon Churchward, PhD

Professor Emeritus of Microbiology and Immunology

Former Assistant Dean in Medical Education and Students' Affairs; Emory University School of Medicine

VenueBiltmore Ballroom

11:00–11:30

Coffee & transition to the parallel program

Interactive Learning Tracks – Parallel Sessions

09:00–14:30

Students only Student Hackathon

Selected student teams + mentors

Registration link

VenueHackathon Zone: Room 3

11:30–13:00

Faculty + Students Interactive Workshop

Prof. Joe Le Doux

Executive Leader for Education Transformation and Innovation, Emory University School of Medicine

Dean's Education Innovation Professor, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University

Prof. Mary Jo Lechowicz

Professor and Vice Chair for Education, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology; Margaret H. Rollins Chair in Cancer, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University

Registration closed – full

VenueRoom 6

11:30–13:30

Faculty + Students Interactive Workshop

Dr. Michael McQuaide

Professor of Sociology; Oxford College of Emory University

Registration closed – full

VenueRoom – Amphitheatre

11:30–13:30

Students only Student Interactive Session

Michele Rutherford

Medical Student Education Coordinator; Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine

Registration link

VenueBiltmore Ballroom

11:30–13:30

Students only Interactive Students’ Workshop

Prof. Paul Horrocks

Director of Medical Sciences and Director of Educational Partnership Development; School of Medicine, Keele University, United Kingdom

Registration link

VenueRoom 8

11:30–13:30

Faculty only Interactive Workshop

Bhavin Adhyaru, MD, FACP, SFHM

Associate Professor of Medicine; Emory University School of Medicine, Grady Memorial Hospital

Registration closed – full

VenueRoom 7

13:30–14:30

Lunch

13:30–15:40

Poster Exhibition

Poster Exhibition; Student art exhibition

VenuePoster Exhibition Area

13:30–15:40

Poster Session

Poster Author Session & Judging (during networking)

VenuePoster Exhibition Area

Student Experience, Support & Academic Success

14:30–16:30

Faculty only Interactive Workshop

Raisa Chyorny, MD

Family Medicine Physician/Hospitalist; Clinical Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine, University of New Mexico

Registration link

VenueRoom 6

14:30–16:30

Faculty only Interactive Workshop

Prof. Irma Tchokhonelidze, MD, PhD

Head of Internal Medicine Department

Tbilisi State Medical University

IM department team

Tbilisi State Medical University

Registration link

VenueRoom 7

14:30–16:30

Faculty only Interactive Workshop

Dr. Nino Chinchaladze

Executive Director, Center for International Education (CIE)

Registration link

VenueRoom 3

14:30–16:30

Students only Student Workshop

Student-led workshop

Registration link

VenueRoom – Amphitheatre

15:30–17:00

Student Workshop

Medical Career and Residency Pathways in Germany

PD, Dr. Tim Patrick Jürgens

Chief Physician, Department of Neurology, KMG Klinikum Güstrow

Medical Director, Headache Center North-East, University Medical Center Rostock

First Vice President, German Migraine and Headache Society (DMKG), Germany

Dr. med. Heike Mach

Chief Physician, Department of Early Neurological Rehabilitation, KMG Clinic Güstrow, Germany

Tornike Tchagalidze, MD

Neurology Resident, Department of Neurology, KMG Clinic Güstrow, Germany

Attendance without registration

VenueTbilisi State Medical University, Administrative Building, Floor 1, Auditorium 1

16:30–16:50

Awards

Hackathon, Poster & Student Recognition

VenueBiltmore Ballroom

16:50–17:10

Closing

ECCES 2026 Conference Closing

VenueBiltmore Ballroom

Parallel Off-site Clinical Masterclasses

15:30–18:00

Clinical Imaging Masterclass

Cardiac MRI in Mitral Regurgitation: From Imaging to Clinical Decision-Making

Dr. Elliott K. Gozansky

Professor of Radiology; Chief, Cardiopulmonary Imaging, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Target audience: Radiologists, cardiologists, cardiology and radiology trainees, and physicians with an interest in cardiovascular imaging.

Registration closed – full More information

VenueIngorokva and TSMU High Medical Technology University Clinic

15:30–18:00

Emergency Medicine Clinical Masterclass

Emergency Medicine: Clinical Decision-Making in High-Stakes Situations

Bryan F. McNally, MD, MPH

Emory University School of Medicine

Target audience: Emergency physicians, residents, clinicians involved in acute care, medical educators and senior medical students with a particular interest in emergency medicine.

Registration closed – full More information

VenueRepublican Hospital