Since its foundation in 1986, the College of Medicine and Health Sciences (COMHS) and the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) has recognised teaching, research, training and community service as its core responsibilities. It aspires to the highest standard of achievement and to international leadership in the quality of its medical and health education and of its graduates, research and contribution to Omani society. It aspires to become a centre of excellence that will set standards for other medical and health science colleges and health care institutions in Oman and beyond.

 

The COMHS is a house of expertise. It has a total of 70 faculty members consisting of 16 Professors, 23 Associate Professors and 28 Assistant Professors. In addition, there are 71 consultants (26 senior consultants and 45 consultants) at SQUH. It has state of the art Laboratories. In addition to the major equipments (Appendix 1) and other departmental resources, the other major research resources are those of SQUH and the animal house.

 

The COMHS has grown and diversified, with well established programmes in the preclinical and clinical departments. Student intake is around 210 (medical, nursing and medical laboratory science) per year and the total student numbers are about 1,200. The College has had good experience with the MSc programs in Biomedical Sciences since 2001 and an MSc program in Clinical Biochemistry is awaiting final approval by the University Council. The University Council has now approved doctoral programmes in eight study areas. In 2008-2009, 5 College departments will begin doctoral
teaching.