We are pleased to announce that registration for the 27th Annual Meeting of IAMSE, to be held June 10 – 13, 2023 in Cancun, Mexico is now open. At this annual meeting of the International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE) faculty, staff, and students from around the world who are interested in health science education join together in faculty development and networking opportunities. Sessions on curriculum development, assessment, and simulation are among the common topics available at the meeting.
Featured plenary speakers include Professor Kara Caruthers (Meharry Medical College, USA), Dr. Michelle Daniel (University of California San Diego School of Medicine, USA), Dr. Anique de Bruin (Maastricht University, The Netherlands), and Dr. Ricardo Leon-Borquez (World Federation for Medical Education).
Harvard Medical School Medical Student COVID-19 Curriculum One of the greatest difficulties facing everyone nowadays is a lack of clarity about what is going on and what lies ahead. We students especially feel a need to deepen our knowledge of the situation, as we are often viewed as resources by our friends and family. However, it soon became clear how challenging it was to process the wealth of information coming our way. A team of us at Harvard Medical School set out to quickly collate and synthesize accurate information about the pandemic to share with those who do not have the time or resources to research it themselves. Additional resources include Curriculum for Kids, an article written by the team discussing the curriculum, and an opportunity to give direct feedback to the developers.
AAMC COVID-19 Resource Hub The AAMC continues to monitor guidance from federal, state, and local health agencies as it relates to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Find information and updates from AAMC on this emerging global health concern.
Acland Anatomy Acland’s Video Atlas of Human Anatomy contains nearly 330 videos of real human anatomic specimens in their natural colors.
MedEd Portal Virtual Resources This collection features peer-reviewed teaching resources that can be used for distance learning, including self-directed modules and learning activities that could be converted to virtual interactions. As always, the resources are free to download and free for adaptation to local settings. The collection will be reviewed and updated regularly.
Aquifer Aquifer is offering free access to 146 Aquifer signature cases, WISE-MD (Surgery), and WISE-OnCall (Readiness for Practice) through June 30, 2020, to all current Aquifer institutional subscribers in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Kaplan iHuman With i-Human Patients, students experience safe, repeatable, fully-graded clinical patient encounters on their devices anywhere, anytime.
Online MedEd The unprecedented COVID‐19 crisis has upended the medical and medical education landscape. Our aim during this difficult and confusing time is to support you with what we do best—concise, high–yield videos to help you get up to speed efficiently and effectively—so you can feel confident with however you’re being called on to adjust.
ScholarRX Bricks In response to a request for assistance from a partner medical school impacted by COVID-19, ScholarRx has agreed to make its Rx Bricks program available at no cost to M2 students for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year. This comprehensive, online resource can assist schools in implementing contingency plans necessitated by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Osmosis You can raise the line by training healthcare workers who don’t have experience treating COVID-19. Encourage healthcare workers you know to complete this free CME course on COVID-19 so they’re prepared to fight the virus.
AnatomyZone Top-quality anatomy videos, all for free.
Harvard Macy Crowdsourced List of Online Teaching Resources Collated by the Harvard Macy Institute (@HarvardMacy)
Firecracker We understand some of the unique challenges you are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic and, as a company, are putting together resources to help you keep up with your courses as well as stay up to date with the latest research and evidence-based practices for addressing this new coronavirus.
5 Minute Consult Primary health care is important to everyone, and now more than ever it’s important that you have access to evidence-based diagnostic and treatment content. To help you with caring for all of your patients, we are offering 30-day free access to 5MinuteConsult.com. Use code 5MC30DayAccess73173 to sign up.
Our association is a robust and diverse set of educators, 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 our 2019 annual meeting site host, IAMSE President Rick Vari.
Rick Vari, PhD Professor & Senior Dean for Academic Affairs Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Roanoke, Virginia, USA
Why was the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine the right choice for the 2019 IAMSE meeting? We are the right choice for the meeting this year because we did a fabulous conference several years ago and we were already in the queue for a future IAMSE meeting. We had some scheduling issues with our original site for 2019 and we were able to step in and fill the void. We have a wonderful hotel site (at the Hotel Roanoke), and the people who came from all across North America for the Collaborating Across Borders V: An American-Canadian Dialogue on Interprofessional Healthcare and Practice, in 2015 really enjoyed it. As a relatively new medical school, we are excited about continuing our growing success in medical education; hosting the IAMSE meeting is a real honor for us.
What opportunities will attendees see in Roanoke that they’ve not seen in years past? Roanoke is a beautiful city to have a conference. We’ve localized the venue, which is a major goal for IAMSE. Attendees and exhibitors will appreciate the layout of the conference site. We are adjacent to the Roanoke Market Square with restaurants, breweries, and shopping featuring local items. There are just lots of opportunities for networking and entertainment. The program is outstanding with presentations and sessions on current and future challenges facing health sciences educators. International abstract submission is up, so more colleagues from other parts of the world may be attending. Increased student participation will be another highlight. This year, IAMSE is also hosting a Taste of Roanoke Street Fair which will replace the annual gala dinner. IAMSE 2019 is going to be a very easy conference to attend. If you can stay for the Grand Extravaganza on Tuesday afternoon it is going to be very special with a hiking trip to a beautiful location on the Blue Ridge Parkway and a visit to the Ballast Point brewery (East Coast operation) for dinner.
Can you tell me more about this new event? We are blocking off the Market Square in downtown Roanoke. We will have tastes of local food, beverages, and music. This is a chance to interact in a casual fun setting with lots of local food and a live band! It’s going to be a lot of fun.
What session or speaker are you most looking forward to this year? I’m looking forward to, of course, the Board of Directors and Committee Chairs meeting. I’ve enjoyed being president and interacting with the Board and Committee Chairs in this planning session provides IAMSE with a sense of solid direction. The plenary sessions also look very strong. I’m interested in the Gen Z session (Generation Z: The New Kids on the Block) and How to Use Disruptive Technology to Make Education Better – Not Just Different.
It sounds likes there is much to look forward to this year. Anything else you’d like to share? The local response from the other medical schools in the area in support of the IAMSE meeting in Roanoke has been very strong. As a new school, this is a tremendous opportunity for us and the other medical schools in the area to get better acquainted.
To learn more about the 2019 IAMSE Annual Meeting, including the plenary speakers, workshops and networking opportunities, or to register, please visitwww.IAMSEconference.org.
Reserve your spot before March 15 to ensure the Early Bird Discount!
The IAMSE booth will be exhibiting at the annual winter meeting of the Group for Research in Pathology Education (GRIPE) in New Orleans, LA on January 24-26, 2019. IAMSE Association Manager Julie Hewett will also be delivering a pre-conference workshop titled, “Using Social Media to Disseminate Your Scholarly Work.” If you plan on attending this meeting, don’t miss this session and do not forget to swing by the IAMSE booth and say hello!
Information on the GRIPE Meeting can be found here. We look forward to seeing you there!
We are pleased to announce that registration for the 23rd Annual Meeting of IAMSE, to be held June 8-11, 2019 in Roanoke, VA, USA, is now open. At this annual meeting of the International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE) faculty, staff and students from around the world who are interested in medical science education join together in faculty development and networking opportunities. Sessions on curriculum development, assessment and simulation are among the common topics available at the annual meetings.
Featured plenary speakers include Don Cleveland, Claudia Krebs, Craig Lenz and Geoff Talmon.
We are excited to welcome Dr. Robert Lebeau, Associate Dean, Preclerkship Curriculum, and Dr. Malvika Kaul, Preclerkship Course Director, both of the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, who will present Reducing the Basic Sciences Curriculum: Ensuring Students are Adequately Prepared, for the second week of the IAMSE 2025 Spring Webcast Audio Seminar Series titled “Current Challenges and Opportunities for Basic Sciences in Medical Education.”
Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to discover innovative strategies and best practices for advancing basic sciences education in an ever-changing medical education landscape.
Robert Lebeau, EdD (left) and Malvika Kaul, PhD (right)
Reducing the Basic Sciences Curriculum: Ensuring Students are Adequately Prepared
Presenters: Robert Lebeau, EdD, Associate Dean, Preclerkship Curriculum, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Malvika Kaul, PhD, Preclerkship Course Director, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Session Date & Time: March 13, 2025 at 12:00 PM EDT Session Description: The imperative to reduce and redistribute the basic sciences curriculum in undergraduate medical education is fraught with challenges. Schools engage in reduction of their basic sciences curriculum for different reasons, but in all instances schools must confront the question of whether students are adequately prepared for their new curriculum and whether they are adequately prepared for what follows. We will explore the challenges and opportunities of student preparation for USMLE Step 1, clerkships, and lifelong learning in reduced basic sciences curricula and present practical examples of approaches to identifying opportunities to support students from the moment they enter the preclerkship curriculum.
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.
Are you looking for professional skills development opportunities during the IAMSE 2025 Conference this June in Calgary, Alberta, Canada? Sign up for up to two Professional Development Workshops (PDWS)! Solicited directly from the IAMSE Professional Development Committee on behalf of the Board of Directors, PDWS are IAMSE’s sanctioned workshops that lead to certificates of attendance for specific topics related to the society’s faculty development focus areas. Using the conceptual framework of micro-scholarship, PDWS serve as skills development stepping stones toward each of the IAMSE faculty development areas:
Teaching
Learner Assessment
Curriculum Development
Advising and Mentoring
Educational Leadership and Administration
This year, the PDWS are offered across four different themes. Participants will receive a Certificate of Workshop Attendance for each workshop completed. Participants who complete two workshops within the same theme will receive a Certificate of Series Attendance listing both workshops and the overarching theme. The themes for the 2025 PDWS are:
AI in Health Professions Education
Student Development Assessment
Program Evaluation – Kirkpatrick, CIPP, Process Outcomes, Logic Model Tools
All PDWS will take place on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Registration for each workshop will be an additional fee of $140.00 USD during registration. Already registered? You can still add PDWS to your schedule by modifying your registration. To do so, you may click here.
If you have any questions or would like assistance adding a workshop to your schedule, please contact support@iamse.org.
Don’t forget to register before the Early Bird deadline on Friday, April 1 to receive a discount on registration costs!
Thank you, Stefanie Attardi, Professional Development Committee Chair Diego Niño, Professional Development Committee Vice-Chair Jon Wisco, Professional Development Workshops Task Force Chair
Two IAMSE Communities of Growth (CoG) will be meeting in March! The AI CoG, and the CORE CoG will both meet on Zoom. Below are the details for each meeting.
AI CoG
The AI CoG meeting on Zoom will take place at Noon (12 PM) EST on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. IAMSE AI CoG meetings take place regularly at 12 PM ET on the first Wednesday of each month. For information on how to join the AI CoG meeting, email Doug McKell at douglas.mckell@gmail.com.
The March AI CoG meeting will have a presentation and discussion on a recently released white paper, “Artificial Intelligence in Medical Education: The 2025 IACAI Vision and Integration Frameworks,” from Sola Aoun Bahous, MD, PhD, MHPE, Professor/Dean.Department of Internal Medicine—Division of Nephrology, Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine of the Lebanese American University. She was one of the authors of this report from the International Advisory Committee for Artificial Intelligence (IACAI), which is made up of representatives from AMEE: the International Association for Health Professions Education, the International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE), the Asia Pacific Medical Education Network (APMEN), and the Alliance of Academic Health Centers International (AAHCI).
To join the March AI CoG Zoom meeting, click here. Meeting ID: 897 1837 0101 Passcode: 511007
CORE CoG
The Community Outreach, Research, and Engagement (CORE) CoG meeting will take place at 3:00 PM EDT on Thursday, March 13, 2025. CORE CoG meetings then take place regularly on the second Thursday of the month at 3:00 PM ET, and the second Monday of the month at 11:00 AM ET every other month. The CORE CoG is led by Peter Vollbrecht and Natascha Heise.
To join the March CORE CoG meeting, click here. Meeting ID: 878 6039 0726 Passcode: 159759
We are excited to welcome Dr. Candace Chow, Director of Education Research and Associate Professor at Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, University of Utah, and Dr. Emine Ercikan Abali, Adjunct Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, who will present Contribution of Basic Science Education to the Professional Identity Development of Medical Learners, to begin the IAMSE 2025 Spring Webcast Audio Seminar Series titled “Current Challenges and Opportunities for Basic Sciences in Medical Education.”
Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to discover innovative strategies and best practices for advancing basic sciences education in an ever-changing medical education landscape.
Candace Chow, PhD (left) and Emine Ercikan Abali, PhD (right)
Contribution of Basic Science Education to the Professional Identity Development of Medical Learners
Presenters: Candace Chow, PhD, Director of Education Research and Associate Professor, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, University of Utah Emine Ercikan Abali, PhD, Adjunct Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Session Date & Time: March 6, 2025 at 12:00 PM EST Session Description: In this session, the presenters will discuss why it is important to understand how basic science and professional identity development are connected. They will present findings from their recently published critical scoping review on how basic science education contributes to professional identity development. They will also share examples of how the publication’s findings have informed changes in teaching at their institutions.
The Annual Conference of the International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE) offers many opportunities for faculty development and networking, and brings medical sciences and medical education across the continuum together. This year’s theme is “Integrating Generations: Are We Ready for the Next 25 Years of Health Professions Education?” Featured plenary speakers include Will Bynum (Duke University, USA), Teresa Chan (Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada), Thirusha Naidu (University of Ottawa, Canada), and Yvonne Steinert (McGill University, Canada).
How Not to Haunt the Future – Global Polycrises Compel Generational Shifts in Medical Science Ideology and Methodology
Presented by: Thirusha Naidu, PhD, University of Ottawa, Canada Date and Time: Monday, June 16, 2025, 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM MDT
In times that call to attention how we value of human life, our diverse ways of knowing and sources of life it becomes imperative to explore how human intervention and interaction are generationally implicated. In this talk I reflect on our emergent awareness of how the inter-related polycrises of global instances of genocide, epistemicide and the destruction of the planet and ecosystems (terracide) highlight gaps in health science ideology and methodology. Reflecting on sociopolitical histories that resulted in past generations creating the conditions for current global crisis. I suggest that accepting past generations limitations and acknowledging contemporary gaps in our knowledge system will catalyse fundamental and essential transformation in research, teaching and scholarship in health and medical science education. I consider how and why we should take responsibility for shifts in ideology and methodology while releasing long-term outcomes to future generations. Consideration of social time, generational consciousness and diffracting and decolonising methodology are ways in which we may alleviate epistemic violence and heal social and intergenerational trauma. Learning objectives 1. To understand how contemporary global polycrises of genocide, epistemicide and terracide results from the actions of past generations 2. To explore how may avert current and future crises through past generations limitations through expanding current ideologies and methodologies. 3. To reflect on how we can expand awareness, positionality and future orientation as researcher to avert harmful impacts of our current unconscious limitations on future generations.
As medical education continues to evolve, the role of the basic sciences must be adapted to address the needs of diverse learners, emerging technologies, and dynamic curricular demands. As a reminder, the Spring 2025 IAMSE Webinar Series, titled Current Challenges and Opportunities for Basic Sciences in Medical Education, explores the evolving intersection of the basic sciences with current curricular trends, professional identity development, artificial intelligence, and integration with clinical training.
This five-part series begins by examining how basic science education shapes the professional identity of our students and shares strategies for medical educators to best align their teaching with these findings. It then addresses challenges of increasingly less time being available for basic sciences curricula and how we can ensure students are prepared for exams, clerkships, and lifelong learning. The series also discusses the impact of third-party commercial learning resources, weighing their benefits and limitations. The series further highlights the transformative role of AI in health professions education, offering global perspectives, frameworks, and tools to support integration.
Finally, the series concludes by exploring strategies for better integrating basic sciences into clerkships to meet the needs of the next generation of physicians.
Join us to discover innovative strategies and best practices for advancing basic sciences education in an ever-changing medical education landscape.
Questions regarding the registration process, specifically for institutions, or other FAQs about the Spring 2025 WAS Series can be found by clicking here.
Current Challenges and Opportunities for Basic Sciences in Medical Education
Join us for each one-hour session beginning Thursday, March 6 at 12 PM EST. Please note that only the first session is in Eastern Standard Time. The remaining sessions are in Eastern Daylight Time. Sessions in the Spring 2025 series include:
March 6, 12:00 PM EST – Contribution of Basic Science Education to the Professional Identity Development of Medical Learners, presented by Candace Chow, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, University of Utah, and Emine Ercikan Abali, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
March 13, 12:00 PM EDT – Reducing the Basic Sciences Curriculum: Ensuring Students are Adequately Prepared, presented by Malvika Kaul and Robert Lebeau, both of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
March 20, 12:00 PM EDT – Opportunities and threats of Third Party Commercial Learning Resources in Undergraduate Medical Education, presented by Jennifer Kogan, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
March 27, 12:00 PM EDT- Meeting the Moment: supporting the Use of AI in and for Medical Education, presented by Anne Farmakidis, AAMC
April 3, 12:00 PM EDT – Exploring the Importance of Basic Sciences in Clerkship for a New Generation of Physicians, presented by Jorge Cervantes, Nova Southeastern University
Questions regarding the registration process, specifically for institutions, or other FAQs about the Spring 2025 WAS Series can be found by clicking here.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to congratulate John Szarek on being awarded the Edward Patrick Finnerty Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be given out at the 29th Annual IAMSE Conference in June. This award is bestowed upon an individual member who has demonstrated sustained involvement in and commitment to the advancement of the International Association of Medical Science Educators through their many types of service to the organization at the maximal level of performance.
The special nature of this award makes it one for which a member may not apply. Rather, it represents the superlative level of recognition that the organization, through selection by its Board of Directors, can provide to a most worthy individual whose work on behalf of IAMSE has shown a consistent history of distinguished accomplishments.
2025 Edward Patrick Finnerty Lifetime Achievement Award recipient John Szarek
Dr. John L. Szarek serves as Professor and Vice Chair for Curriculum in the Department of Medical Education and Education Director for Simulation at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. He received his B.S. degrees in biological sciences and pharmacy from the University of Illinois in Urbana and Chicago, respectively. He earned his doctorate in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy and completed his postdoctoral training in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Vermont.
John has been a member of IAMSE since 1999, contributing significantly to the organization’s growth and development through various leadership roles and scholarly activities. He served on the IAMSE Board of Directors from 2004-2006, and 2007-2013, including serving as Secretary from 2012-2013. His commitment to advancing IAMSE is evident through his extensive service, including Chair of the Technology Committee (2006-2009), MedU Science Pharmacology Core Director (2014-2018), and member of the Publications Committee (2010-2023).
Throughout his tenure with IAMSE, John has regularly contributed to the organization’s annual conferences, serving on several program committees (2004, 2005, 2007, 2013) and chairing the 2006 program, held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. His expertise in medical education is reflected in his extensive presentation record at IAMSE Conferences, where he has led workshops and focus sessions on topics ranging from simulation-based education to active learning strategies. He has presented several posters, won best poster presentation in 2023, delivered a plenary presentation in 2005, and contributed chapters in three IAMSE Manuals. John was recognized with the IAMSE Master Teacher Award in June 2015.
It is with sincere appreciation and gratitude to his continued efforts and outstanding support that we bestow this award to our dear friend and colleague, John Szarek. Congratulations, and thank you for all that you do for IAMSE.
The Annual Conference of the International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE) offers many opportunities for faculty development and networking, and brings medical sciences and medical education across the continuum together. This year’s theme is “Integrating Generations: Are We Ready for the Next 25 Years of Health Professions Education?” Featured plenary speakers include Will Bynum (Duke University, USA), Teresa Chan (Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada), Thirusha Naidu (University of Ottawa, Canada), and Yvonne Steinert (McGill University, Canada).
Faculty Development in the Medical Sciences: Preparing for the Future
Presented by: Yvonne Steinert, PhD, McGill University, Canada Date and Time: Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM MDT
Are we ready for the next 25 years of health professions education? How do we best prepare faculty members for the challenges that lie ahead?
Although there is no simple answer to these questions, part of the response may lie in faculty development – how we prepare current and new faculty members for the future. This presentation will focus on 3 possible foci for faculty development: (1) how faculty development can help to promote adaptive expertise and equip medical science educators to respond to change and uncertainty; (2) how faculty development can support professional identity formation and help faculty members uncover core values that should not change; and (3) how faculty development can be inclusive – of different professional backgrounds, different levels of expertise, and different personal and sociocultural backgrounds. In closing, we will also explore how faculty development can move beyond a focus on the individual to address organizational constraints and affordances that will enable the integration of generations and help medical science educators prepare for the future.
As a reminder, the International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE) is pleased to announce that applications for the IAMSE Mentoring (IM-REACH) Program are now invited!
Mentoring students, postdocs, and faculty and guiding their work is crucial for their success in diverse career paths that encompass leadership, clinical and educational roles. The IAMSE IM-REACH Mentoring program is a productive way to prepare for a role as mentors and support mentees in their career paths and academic pursuits. Mentorship is a skill for both the mentor and mentee, a true dynamic relationship that is a journey in pursuit of career engagement and success.
The IM-REACH mentoring program provides an opportunity to enhance skills, gain experience, and engage in reflection and growth as a mentor and ultimately influence your relationship with your mentee. The goal of this program is to develop well-rounded, diverse health professional education mentors through targeted professional development in key aspects of mentorship, which includes both knowledge and skills. The program will provide evidence of that mentorship leads to specialized achievement that enhances and supports career advancement for both mentors and mentees.
Participants will complete a one-year mentoring program with a scholarly project related to their professional needs as a mentor or as an educational leader supporting mentorship programs with mentors and mentees.
Participants will complete a validated mentoring assessment pre-program in order to demonstrate growth, comfort, and knowledge gained. They will complete a comprehensive evaluation, including reflective questions on their experience in the program.
The year-long mentoring program focuses on the dual role of mentors and mentees in establishing a mentor/mentee relationship.
The program will open with a live 3-hour session at the IAMSE 2025 Conference during the pre-conference scheduled time. If you cannot attend the IAMSE 2025 Conference, you can join this session virtually during the scheduled time. This will be followed by virtual sessions every other month, conducted in a workshop style, based on content from the IAMSE Mentoring Manual. In the alternating months, there are one-hour virtual office hours with the program facilitators to address individual needs as a mentor and mentorship on the required project for the program. In total, there are six virtual meetings and six office hours in addition to the first meeting.
Below are two quotes from the first IM-REACH cohort on important takeaways from the program:
“Having clearly defined roles and expectations is important for effective mentoring relationships. It is more than just ‘friends with (career) benefits.’ you can be a coach and a mentor at the same time, but it is challenging and sometimes presents conflicts of interest.”
“The Mentoring in Health Professions Education manual is an incredible resource.”
Applicants for this cohort will be accepted until April 1, 2025. All accepted applicants will be informed by April 15, 2025. Payment must be submitted to IAMSE by May 1, 2025. You may submit your application by clicking here. For questions about the IM-REACH Program or how to apply, please contact support@iamse.org. We thank you for your interest and look forward to supporting you in achieving your professional goals in educational scholarship.
The Annual Conference of the International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE) offers many opportunities for faculty development and networking, and brings medical sciences and medical education across the continuum together. This year’s theme is “Integrating Generations: Are We Ready for the Next 25 Years of Health Professions Education?” Featured plenary speakers include Will Bynum (Duke University, USA), Teresa Chan (Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada), Thirusha Naidu (University of Ottawa, Canada), and Yvonne Steinert (McGill University, Canada).
The Transformative Power of Shame in Medical Education: Challenges, Opportunities, and Imperatives
Presented by: Will Bynum, MD, PhD, Duke University, USA Date and Time: Sunday, June 15, 2025, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM MDT
In this talk, the speaker will utilize compelling personal narrative, empiric findings from his research program on shame in medical learners, and the peer-reviewed literature to guide attendees through an exploration of shame in medical education. He will ultimately argue that shame is a ubiquitous, heavily veiled experience in medical education with which medical learners and faculty must constructively engage. He will explain how shame engagement is both a pressing imperative and a transformative opportunity, and he will outline shame competence as a framework to begin achieving it.
This research integrated Augmented Reality (AR) with manikin-based simulations for the first time. Manikin-based simulations have been a staple in medical education, offering hands-on practice and training for medical interns dealing with critical care scenarios. The study introduces AR as a transformative tool that overlays interactive anatomical holograms and the Insight Heart app onto these simulations. This integration makes complex pathophysiological concepts more visualized and tangible, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.
A major challenge addressed by the researcher was the high cost of AR technology. Using a single HoloLens headset and an iPhone with AR apps, the researcher developed an innovative solution allowing all participants to view the holograms simultaneously, rather than only the one who wears the single headset. This approach ensured that the entire student team could engage with the AR content, enhancing the collective team-based learning experience.
The simulations covered managing atrial fibrillation from pulmonary embolism and addressing upper gastrointestinal bleeding. By incorporating AR, students gained real-time insights into anatomical structures, which improved their decision making.
Feedback from students and faculty highlighted increased engagement and a better understanding of complex concepts.
This study sets an example that AR can be integrated into simulation easily with less financial burden to benefit more students. This innovative AR integration has the potential to expand to cover many other critical pathologic disorders.
It is essential to read the full article, if any medical educators are interested in applying simulation in their teaching or curricula. Future research is warranted to compare the long-term knowledge retention and clinical skill of dealing with those critical scenarios between students who accept integrative AR simulation and those who only accept manikin simulation.
Qing Zhong, MD, PhD Professor of Pharmacology Rocky Vista University
