Establishing Global Space Medicine Education and Training Programs: A Focus on the Middle East

Space medicine is an essential medical discipline that focuses on safe and healthy human space travel by incorporating medical information and practices from a number of relevant medical specialties to address the challenges and hazards of human spaceflight. With increasing global space activities, there is a growing demand for trained professionals in this field. We propose a cascade of educational and training programs: A short course (2–4 weeks) about space medicine, its roles, its accomplishments, and recommendations for further education; postgraduate diploma (6 months) that includes structured teaching, assessments, and practical components, covering critical areas in the practice of space medicine; master’s degree (1 to 2 years) covering the fundamental of space medicine with a rigorous research component to improve the safety and health of space-farers; and a residency program (2–4 years) that trains physicians to become certified space medicine specialists. This paper advocates for establishing comprehensive education and training programs in space medicine globally, emphasizing the Middle East due to its burgeoning space ambitions.