This new collaboration will support PMU’s planned medical school and bring cutting-edge medical services to Al Khobar governorate.
[AL KHOBAR/AUSTIN - May 17, 2023] — Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University (PMU) and the Texas International Education Consortium (TIEC) announced a new partnership in support of PMU’s plans to establish a world-class teaching hospital in Al Khobar governorate, where PMU is located. The future teaching hospital will offer the highest quality healthcare services for the local population, while simultaneously serving as a national and international destination for education, research, and health care for those who seek specialized medical education, treatment, and care. The new hospital is intended to adopt the concept of preventive medicine in order to improve quality of life and access to care by minimizing the need for treatment of avoidable diseases.
PMU selected TIEC, a non-profit higher education university consortium based in Austin, Texas, from among several proposals they received. TIEC, a longstanding partner to PMU, will serve as project manager for the initial planning stages of the new hospital. The two institutions began cooperation more than 17 years ago, when the establishment of PMU was a new initiative that needed an academic partner. Through TIEC’s academic consulting services, large teams of Texas faculty and administrators worked side by side with peers in Al Khobar to plan and develop every aspect of the new university. Upon establishment, PMU continued to seek collaboration with TIEC.
“We are honored to be embarking on this new project with PMU,” said TIEC President and CEO, Robin J. Lerner. “Since our first contract with PMU more than 17 years ago, TIEC and PMU have enjoyed an enduring friendship. Through TIEC, scores of Texas faculty have traveled to Al Khobar over the years to assist with PMU’s academic and curricular expansion. We have always seen PMU’s success as TIEC's success, and we look forward to supporting PMU, once again, as it embarks on its next great achievement.”
Dr. Issa Al Ansari, President of PMU, said, “During this post-pandemic phase, we have so many lessons to apply to the provision of health care going forward. We know that international collaboration is essential for global preparedness and to ensure we are continually innovating. For this reason, we welcome this evolution in our partnership with TIEC.”
The project will be governed by a Steering Committee made up of leading U.S. subject matter experts and PMU-based higher education administrators. Dr. Heather Farmakis, TIEC’s project director and co-chair of the Steering Committee, said, “PMU’s vision to create a hospital complex that serves the local population’s needs while simultaneously adopting the most cutting edge innovations in technology and method is exciting and deeply needed. TIEC will serve the project by recruiting highly accomplished medical experts from Texas and across the U.S. and, simultaneously, creating pathways for long-term collaboration and cooperation in support of students, faculty, researchers and practitioners, alike.”
The joint Steering Committee for the project is being Chaired by TIEC's PMU Project Director, Heather Farmakis, PhD, and Co-Chaired by PMU's Dean of the College of Law, Dr. Mohammad Bashayreh; Dr. Stephen Spann, MD, MBA, Clinical Professor and Founding Dean of the College of Medicine at the University of Houston, Dr. Brigham Willis, MD, MEd, FAAP, Founding Dean of the University of Texas at Tyler, School of Medicine, and Harris Benny, MBA, Managing Partner and CEO of Medpoint Health Partners in Houston. Brenda Moore, PhD, RN-BC, CNE, Associate Professor at Texas Woman’s University, is the Clinical Specialties Working Group Chair. Daniel Deslatte, MPA, FACHE, SVP of Business Affairs and COO of Health Affairs at the University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center, is the Organizational Design & Human Resources Working Group Chair. Jewel Mullen, MD, MPH, Associate Dean for Health Equity at Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin, is Chair of the Quality, Safety, and Accreditation Working Group. Debbie Gregory, DNP, RN, Principal of Healthcare Innovation Consulting at Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. is serving as the Chair for the Information Technology Working Group. James Ticer, Senior Principal of Global Medical Equipment at Shen, Milsom & Wilke, is the Hospital Equipment Working Group Chair, and Jean Mah, FAIA, FACHA, LEED AP, Practice Leader and Principal at Perkins&Will, is the Architecture Design Working Group Chair.
About Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University
Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University (PMU) is an institution of higher education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, committed to quality and excellence in teaching and learning. The initiative to establish the university was taken by a group of renowned individuals under the auspices of HRH Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd Bin Abdul-Aziz. PMU is a multicultural environment celebrating diversity and investing in human capital. PMU prepares future leaders in their fields of specialty to participate in the economic growth of the Kingdom and the region and to become global citizens capable of integrating into the increasingly competitive global workplace. PMU offers graduate and undergraduate programs in Engineering, Architecture, Business Administration, Computer Science and Law. PMU also contributes to the advancement of knowledge by encouraging student and faculty research, innovation and entrepreneurship. PMU houses centers for Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Futuristic Studies and Nano Science. PMU graduates have proven remarkable skills in leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, problem solving, technological and professional skills. In its short 17 years’ existence, PMU has risen to be ranked 3rd in the Times Higher Education - Arab World University Ranking 2022 and Ranked 651-700 in QS-world university ranking 2022.
About the Texas International Education Consortium
Since 1985, the Texas International Education Consortium, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, has been working on behalf of its members to build international partnerships and a global network of friends and sponsors to bring opportunities to Texas and share Texas expertise around the world. TIEC’s university matchmaking has opened opportunities for faculty research as well as student mobility, student recruitment, and professional exchange. TIEC was created to be a nimble programming partner to its university members and has established itself as a trusted implementer of publicly-funded grants and programs, as well as fee-for-service projects. TIEC hosts the longest-standing intensive English program in Texas and has supported the establishment and growth of universities in more than 40 countries around the world. TIEC serves as a J visa sponsor for academic programs, supporting the diverse needs of its partners. For more information, visit TIEC.org. For examples of our programs, visit TIEC News.
