Our Association is a robust and diverse set of educators, students, researchers, medical professionals, volunteers and academics that come from all walks of life and from around the globe. Each month we choose a member to highlight their academic and professional career and see how they are making the best of their membership in IAMSE. This month’s Featured Member is Brianne Lewis.
Brianne Lewis, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
Central Michigan University College of Medicine
Saginaw, Michigan, USA
How long have you been a member of IAMSE?
I joined IAMSE in 2021, shortly after advancing from a post-doc into a faculty role.
Looking at your time with the Association, what have you most enjoyed doing? What are you looking forward to?
I’ve had so many amazing experiences with IAMSE that it’s hard to choose. From the very start, IAMSE has felt like my professional home, and its members are some of the most welcoming people. One memory that stands out is my first service opportunity as a program committee member for the virtual forum. It was such a rewarding experience. At the time, the forum was only in its second year, and spending a year working with the committee gave me the chance to connect with colleagues from around the world. Later that year, I attended my first annual meeting, and it was wonderful to see so many familiar faces in person. I think every year, I most look forward to the annual meeting. I enjoy being able to connect with friends and colleagues in person. Professionally, medical education is my primary focus, so this conference is the best value in terms of being exposed to new ideas and perspectives from across disciplines.
What interesting things are you working on outside of the Association right now?
Outside of IAMSE, most of my time is spent teaching, working on medical education research projects, and serving on committees. I’m especially passionate about STEMM outreach and scholarship. Lately, I’ve been excited about developing a new program, MedWork, which connects high school students with STEMM professionals outside their usual social circles to help expand access to healthcare careers. My interest in these programs started during a teaching internship in graduate school, and now, I’m grateful for the opportunity to shape this field as Chair of Membership and Member Programming and a member of the Finance Committee for the Association of STEMM Pathway and Bridge Programs (ASPBP). Of course, life isn’t all work! In my free time, you’ll often find me baking (and eating) homemade bread, playing piano, reading a good book, or exploring Michigan’s hiking trails.
As a member of the IAMSE Program Committee, what do you most enjoy about being a part of that?
I think it’s wonderful to have a voice in shaping an influential meeting for medical educators. One of the best parts of being on the program committee is working with faculty from all over, at all different career stages. I enjoy getting to work with everyone and seeing how the ideas from the seasoned and novice members meld together to create something special.
Anything else that you would like to add?
Getting involved, especially as a junior faculty member, can be a game-changer for your career and professional network. Some professional meetings can feel a bit formal and intimidating, but IAMSE is the opposite. It’s a welcoming, collaborative community where people genuinely enjoy sharing ideas and supporting one another. This group truly enjoys discussing medical education, embraces new ideas, and approaches everything with care and openness.