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 Jennifer Montemayor.
Jennifer Montemayor, PhD
Director of Pre-Clinical Education, Professor of Physiology
Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
How long have you been a member of IAMSE?
I have been a member of IAMSE since 2013 when I attended my first annual meeting at St. Andrews University in Scotland, and I participated in the Essential Skills in Medical Education (ESME) course during the meeting. It was a pivotal experience in my journey as a medical educator, and I am so thankful that a colleague recommended this organization to me!
Looking at your time with the Association, what have you most enjoyed doing? What are you looking forward to?
IAMSE provides such a rich abundance of professional development resources and forums for engagement with other health professions educators that it is difficult to choose what I have most enjoyed. I would have to say I most look forward to attending the annual conference and the opportunity to connect with both new and familiar colleagues from around the globe and hear from engaging and timely speakers and presenters.
Tell me about your time serving on the IAMSE Program Committee for 2022. What have been the standout challenges or overall highlights for planning this event?
I have been fortunate to serve on both the 2020 and 2022 Program Committees, and it has been particularly exciting this year to be planning for the return to an in-person meeting opportunity following the past two years of successful virtual meetings. For me, it has been a highlight to collaborate with a diverse team of members and the 2022 Program Committee Chair, Maria Sheakley, in the selection of the meeting theme and plenary speakers. I also really appreciate contributing to the meeting planning through the pre-conference workshop, focus session, and abstract reviews. Since my institution, Rocky Vista University, is serving as the institutional host for this meeting, I am really looking forward to welcoming IAMSE colleagues to our part of the word in June!
What workshop, session or event are you most looking forward to in Denver?
Certainly, it’s not possible to select just one! There are several focus sessions that I am particularly looking forward to. There is a wonderful group of plenary speakers, including the student plenary panel, that will be addressing critical conversations for health professions educators for the present and the future of our field. The Gala Dinner at the famous Red Rocks Amphitheater will surely be a memorable event!
What interesting things are you working on outside the Association right now?
I continue to be involved in various medical education research projects. Some current work with collaborators includes examining the impact on osteopathic medical students of U.S. Step 1/Level 1 licensure exams transitioning to pass/fail reporting, changes in osteopathic medical school grading scales, flipped classroom, as well as several interesting student-initiated projects ranging from case studies to the impact of COVID-related curriculum and assessment changes on osteopathic medical students.
Anything else that you would like to add?
I have found IAMSE to be the most welcoming of the various professional organizations I have been a member of. While there is a sizeable membership base from all regions of the world, in my experience it is still a small enough organization that members can find meaningful ways to connect and develop relationships with one another. The passionate, dedicated, and visionary leaders of this organization continue to grow and strengthen IAMSE member resources in order to offer accessible and engaging platforms for developing and sharing innovations in health professions education.
For more information on sessions, presentations and to register for #IAMSE22 visit www.IAMSEconference.org.