I hope you will join me in congratulating Dr. Eve Gallman, Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership (AU/UGA Medical Partnership), on being awarded the Medical Science Educator (MSE) 2025 Outstanding Reviewer Award. Dr. Gallman was presented with this honor during the International Association of Medical Science Educator’s (IAMSE) Annual Conference earlier this month.
2025 Medical Science Educator Outstanding Reviewer Eve Gallman, right, and MSE Editor-in-Chief David M. Harris, left.
This award is an initiative of the Editorial Board of Medical Science Educator, the peer-reviewed journal of IAMSE. The award is presented annually to recognize one of the journal’s reviewers for their outstanding peer review efforts over the past year. The recipients are selected based on several criteria including reviewer performance and delivering the reviews in a timely manner.
Congratulations Dr. Gallman!
Thank you, David M. Harris, PhD Editor-in-Chief, Medical Science Educator
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 Jickssa M. Gemechu.
Jickssa M. Gemechu, PhD Associate Professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies Co-Director, Anatomical Foundations of Clinical Practice Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
How long have you been a member of IAMSE? I have been a member of IAMSE since 2016, the same year I joined the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (OUWB). I attended my first Annual IAMSE Conference in 2018 and have consistently participated every year since.
Looking at your time with the Association, what have you most enjoyed doing? What are you looking forward to? During my time with IAMSE, I have actively engaged in many of the opportunities the association offers its members. IAMSE played a pivotal role in my transition from a postdoctoral fellow with bench research experience to a faculty position in medical education. I began this journey by enrolling in the ESME course, which I completed in February 2019. This experience equipped me with foundational skills and knowledge in health professions education and enabled me to pursue the IAMSE Medical Education Fellowship, which I completed in 2022. The fellowship significantly enriched my professional development, offering comprehensive training and providing tangible evidence of specialized achievement that has supported and advanced my academic career.
In addition to these educational opportunities, I have served on the IAMSE Membership Committee (2023–2025) and have been a manuscript reviewer for the Medical Science Educator since 2020. I currently serve on the IAMSE Ambassador Committee and look forward to continuing my active engagement with the association in various capacities.
What interesting things are you working on outside of the Association right now? At OUWB, I am actively engaged in teaching Gross Anatomy, Embryology and Neuroanatomy sessions, and serve as Co-Director of the Anatomical Foundations of Clinical Practice course. In recognition of my commitment to teaching, I was honored with the Foundational Medical Studies Excellence in Teaching Award in 2024. In addition to my educational responsibilities, I mentor students on several Embark research projects focused on basic and clinical anatomy, particularly examining clinically relevant anatomy in surgical contexts. I have also collaborated with OUWB and international colleagues on a survey-based study investigating the impact of cultural attachment on medical students’ perceptions and emotional experiences during human donor dissection. This work was presented at the 2024 IAMSE Annual Conference and part of it has been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
I was recently honored to receive the Oakland University Black Faculty Association Summer Research and Education Award in support of a project titled Integration of Anatomy Q&A Podcast to Enhance Learning and Engagement Among Medical Students. This initiative draws on questions developed and refined from high-yield topics and complex anatomical concepts identified through student survey feedback. We have completed two pilot Q&A podcast episodes and plan to fully launch the series in the upcoming fall semester, with the goal of expanding access beyond OUWB students. In addition to my teaching and scholarly responsibilities, I actively serve on multiple committees at OUWB and Oakland University. These leadership roles have enabled me to make meaningful contributions to the institution and have been instrumental in my growth as an academic leader.
Outside of OUWB, I serve as an adjunct faculty member at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, where I teach and mentor postgraduate students. In this role, I have developed collaborative research partnerships and contributed to the publication of several scholarly manuscripts.
As a member of the IAMSE Membership Committee, what do you most enjoy about being a part of that? Serving on the IAMSE Membership Committee over the past three years has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my involvement with the association. What I value most is the opportunity to engage with a diverse and passionate community of educators dedicated to advancing medical education worldwide. Contributing to initiatives aimed at increasing and retaining membership, assessing member needs, and supporting professional development has been both meaningful and fulfilling.
As part of my service, I was assigned to the IAMSE Equity Faculty Development Task Force, where we examined how equity is embedded within the association’s structure to promote membership growth and faculty development. The task force’s recommendations were well received by the IAMSE Executive Committee, reflecting a strong, shared commitment to equity and the continued growth of the association.
I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to contribute to IAMSE’s mission. This experience has deepened my appreciation for inclusive, collaborative academic communities and strengthened my commitment to fostering equity and engagement in medical education. I look forward to continuing my active involvement with IAMSE and supporting its ongoing progress and impact.
Anything else that you would like to add? I would like to add that IAMSE has been instrumental in supporting professionals transitioning from bench research to medical education by providing guidance, encouragement, and meaningful professional development opportunities. It serves as an outstanding association for growth, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where members can share ideas, collaborate on scholarly initiatives, and stay informed about best practices in health professions education.
Beyond individual advancement, IAMSE has a profound impact on learners by promoting evidence-based teaching strategies that enhance engagement and improve learning outcomes. Faculty benefit from a broad range of professional development opportunities, including webinars, mentorship programs, and annual conferences that foster innovation, leadership, and excellence in medical education.
IAMSE also plays a vital role in shaping the broader educational landscape through its commitment to global collaboration and the dissemination of high-quality research and educational resources. Ultimately, the association empowers its members to be agents of change within their institutions and communities, advancing the quality of medical education and contributing to better healthcare outcomes.
As a reminder, Medical Science Educator introduced subject-focused journal sections in 2015. The content for these special sections is based on a call for manuscripts on an identified high-value topic. This year we are publishing a special journal section dedicated to the topic of “Implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Health Sciences Education.”
Our goal is to provide a rapid review of submitted articles facilitated by a special editor. I have appointed Dr. Doug McKell, Leader of the IAMSE AI Community of Growth, to oversee this process. He will work with a dedicated group of reviewers as we understand the rapidly evolving nature of the field. Medical Science Educator has numerous article types and we are particularly interested in Innovations, Short Communications, Monographs and Original Research (Submission Guidelines | Medical Science Educator). Submission does not guarantee acceptance.
The deadline for submissions for the special section is September 1, 2025.
We look forward to receiving prospective AI in Health Sciences Education manuscripts for consideration in this special section. Please contact David M. Harris, MSE Editor-in-Chief, with any questions (editor@iamse.org).
Be courageous, David M. Harris, PhD Editor-in-Chief, Medical Science Educator
The Distinguished Career Award for Excellence in Teaching and Educational Scholarship recognizes an IAMSE member who has a distinguished record of educational scholarship, including educational research and dissemination of scholarly approaches to teaching and education. Candidates must have a significant record of engagement within IAMSE.Sandra Haudek, the 2025 awardee, is an Associate Professor, Course Director for Foundations Basic to the Sciences of Medicine, Director of the Peer Coaching for Educators Program, and Faculty Senator at the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
The Early Career Award for Excellence in Teaching and Innovation honors an IAMSE member who has made significant innovations to the field in the short time they have focused their careers toward enhancing teaching, learning and assessment. Candidates must have demonstrated less than 10 years of educational scholarship. Sara Allison, the 2025 awardee, is an Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, at Western Michigan University, Kalimazoo, MI, USA.
Congratulations to Dr. Haudek and Dr. Allison. They will both be honored at the 29th Annual IAMSE Conference in June. Good luck to both of you in all your future endeavors.
Thank you, Stefanie Attardi Chair, IAMSE Professional Development Committee
For more information on workshops and presentations or to register for the 2025 IAMSE Annual Conference please visit www.IAMSEconference.org.
Time is running out if you’d like to register for the IAMSE 2025 Conference, June 14-17, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. On Tuesday, May 20th at 11:59 PM EDT online registration for the event will be CLOSED. If you have not yet registered but are planning to attend in person, please be sure to register before the deadline. Registration may be found at www.iamseconference.org.
If you miss this deadline, we will be offering registration on-site in Calgary. Looking forward to seeing you there!
As a final reminder, in 2024, IAMSE refreshed its introductory course in educational principles, previously known as Essential Skills in Medical Education (ESME) to Foundations of Health Professions Education (to be known as the Foundations course). The deadline to register for this year’s IAMSE Foundations Course is May 15, 2025!
With the increasing professionalization of medical education, the need for faculty in the healthcare professions to have training in educational principles is widely recognized. While many institutions worldwide offer certificate or Master’s degree courses in medical education, there is a lack of accredited basic level courses. The new Foundations course has been designed to meet the need for an entry level survey of principles in health professions education. Foundations will be of particular interest to faculty who are involved with health professions education for the first time, or who have been given some new responsibilities or assignment relating to teaching. Others will find this course useful as a refresher course or update.
The course is led by two seasoned educators and long-time IAMSE members:
Aviad Haramati, PhD, is a Professor of Physiology and Medicine, and Director of the Center for Innovation and Leadership in Education (CENTILE), at Georgetown University Medical Center. He served as IAMSE’s first president and received the Distinguished Scholar Award, as well as the Edward P. Finnerty Lifetime Achievement Award from IAMSE.
Amber J. Heck, PhD, is Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. she served as Program Chair for the 2023 IAMSE Conference and received the 2020 IAMSE Early Career Award of Excellence in Teaching and Innovation.
IAMSE is pleased to offer the course, which will start a day before the Annual Conference, and it is designed to be specifically relevant to medical science educators. Successful completion of the Foundations course is a pre-requisite for the IAMSE Fellowship Program.
Additional Foundations Course details and registration information can be found by clicking here.
The deadline to enroll in the Foundations Course is May 15, 2025!
Don’t forget to register before the Early Bird deadline on Friday, April 1 to receive a discount on registration costs!
This research investigated whether formative short answer questions (SAQs), used as Concept Application Exercises (CAEs) at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, could serve as both effective learning tools and early indicators of academic risk. SAQs are intended to promote critical thinking and the application of knowledge in response to clinical scenarios. Although these assessments are not utilized for grading or making formal progress decisions, they were analyzed for their capacity to predict which learners may encounter challenges later in the curriculum.
The study analyzed data from over 10,000 CAEs across four student cohorts. The authors found that lower average scores on CAEs were significantly associated with future academic difficulties. Specifically, each one-point drop in average CAE score increased the odds of referral to the school’s Student Progress Committee by 37%. Interestingly, a single low-scoring CAE also flagged increased risk, further supporting the utility of SAQs as early warning signals.
The authors used logistic regression modeling and triangulated their findings by also examining performance on internal progress tests (PPI) and national licensing exams (MCCQE), both of which showed consistent patterns.
The study advances the conversation around how programmatic assessment can be leveraged not only to evaluate knowledge, but also to intervene early – especially in seeking to implement proactive, data-formed support systems for struggling students in medical curricula. SAQs, often viewed as lower-stakes formative tools, may offer valuable insights into students’ learning trajectories.
It is essential to read the full article for medical educators interested in enhancing early identification and intervention strategies. Future research could explore how these insights might shape timely academic support and improve long-term learner outcomes.
Komal Marwaha, M.D., PhD Assistant Professor of Physiology Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
The 29th Annual IAMSE Conference will feature a host of new sessions throughout the entire conference. One of our first-time focus sessions is Across the Academy: Building Co-Curricular Professional Development with Student Input to Strengthen Programs. This session will be given Monday, June 16, 2025 from 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM MDT and will be led by Amanda Gray and Heather Rissler.
The dominant story circulating in higher education is partnerships are too difficult to forge, or if they exist, they must take just one form: faculty and staff leading students. However, when students are brought into the fold of curriculum creation, they become empowered to share their ideas and suggestions and are excited to be a part of the process. In turn, faculty and staff are re-energized by the thoughtfulness and innovation of students. With this spirit, the University of Kansas School of Medicine devised a plan recruiting a group of students, faculty, and staff across our multi-campus institution to come together to create a strengths-based professional development curriculum and coaching program.
Two IAMSE Communities of Growth (CoG) will be meeting in May! 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) EDT on Wednesday, May 7, 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.
To join the May 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 11:00 AM EDT on Monday, May 12, 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 May CORE CoG meeting, click here. Meeting ID: 878 6039 0726 Passcode: 159759
For more information on these CoGs and the other active IAMSE CoGs, click here.
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 Uzoma “Samuel” Ikonne.
Uzoma “Samuel” Ikonne Associate Professor Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Eastern Virginia Medical School Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University
How long have you been a member of IAMSE? 6 years.
Looking at your time with the Association, what have you most enjoyed doing? What are you looking forward to? I’ve truly enjoyed connecting and collaborating with faculty from institutions around the world. One of the organization’s greatest strengths is the opportunity it provides to learn from individuals at various institutions and at different stages in their careers.
What interesting things are you working on outside of the Association right now? I am currently working to advance my research in student use of third-party resources, while also collaborating with students on projects focused on pharmacology education and medical student involvement in research.
As the Chair of this year’s IAMSE Program Committee, what do you most enjoy about being in this role? What can people expect at this year’s conference? What I enjoyed most about serving as Program Committee Chair was seeing how faculty from diverse institutions came together as a team, united in their commitment to creating a meaningful and engaging conference experience. It has truly been a privilege to be part of that process and to serve in this role. Attendees can look forward to an excellent lineup of focus sessions, plenary talks, and research presentations – each offering valuable insights and takeaways they can bring back to their institutions.
Anything else that you would like to add? I am looking forward to the conference in Calgary and how IAMSE will continue to grow as an organization.
The 29th Annual IAMSE Conference will feature a host of new sessions throughout the entire conference. One of our first-time focus sessions is Heights are Defined by Roots: Emphasizing the Imperative for Strengthening Bioethical Foundations in the Growing Era of Health Professions Education. This session will be given Sunday, June 15, 2025 from 9:45 AM – 11:45 AM MDT and will be led by Mary Mathew and Krishna Mohan Surapaneni.
In the rapidly evolving field of health professions education, maintaining a strong foundation in bioethics is more important than ever. This session, titled “Heights are Defined by Roots: Emphasizing the Imperative for Strengthening Bioethical Foundations in the Growing Era of Health Professions Education,” is designed to address this need. We will explore the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics’ 3T Program—Train, Teach, and Transfer—which has been successfully implemented to integrate bioethics into health professions education around the world.
The 29th Annual IAMSE Conference will feature a host of new sessions throughout the entire conference. One of our first-time focus sessions is Microdosing the Humanities: Integrating the Humanities in the Preclinical Curriculum. This session will be given Monday, June 16, 2025 from 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM MDT and will be led by Alice Akunyili, Marin Gillis, and Judy Hanrahan.
A ubiquitous problem in adding the humanities into medical school curriculum is the lack of a systemic approach to integration which makes it difficult to judge the success of the intervention. “Humanities” here is construed broadly to include humanism, ethics, and arts and humanities disciplines. Humanities content can be assessed only with clear overall learning objectives, a coherent articulation of the objective knowledge and skills learners are expected to demonstrate, and a collaborative multidisciplinary approach to developing curricular units. With limited hours and an already bloated curriculum, small, focused, and impactful inclusion of humanities topics is key.
