In this era of tight travel budgets,
medical science educators have to consider carefully how they spend those
precious dollars. I am pleased to tell you there is one meeting on medical
education guaranteed to give you top value, the annual meeting of the
International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE). What does the
IAMSE meeting offer that other meetings on medical education do not?
First, and most important, the focus:
the medical sciences. This conference is directed toward all individuals who
teach within a medical environment, with a particular focus on those responsible
for the basic medical sciences. These are defined as subjects arising from the
traditional disciplines of Anatomy, Behavioral Sciences, Biochemistry,
Microbiology & Immunology, Pathology, Pharmacology, and Physiology. At this
meeting you can: Meet with colleagues who share your passion for your medical
science discipline; Learn what other medical scientists are doing in curriculum
development; Learn what the future holds for medicine and what we need to be
thinking about as medical educators to train our students so that they are ready
to meet the challenges.
Second, networking. In
addition to colleagues from your discipline, you will meet those from other
disciplines from around the world. Typically, medical educators from as many as
30 countries attend IAMSE meetings. Not surprisingly, we share many of the same
issues with respect to educating students. In addition to basic science
educators, attendees include course and clerkship directors; academic
physicians; deans for medical education, academic affairs, and faculty
development; CME directors; educational psychologists; and, more recently,
students. There are many opportunities to meet with colleagues and the plenary
presenters and session leaders. In addition to the meeting, there are two social
events which provide a more informal setting for networking. The first is the
opening reception where flags are displayed from each country represented by
medical educators at the meeting. Then there is the Gala. The Galas at the last
three IAMSE meetings featured a cowboy band, a Mardi Gras parade just for
meeting participants, and a mariachi band with plenty of food and beverages to
go around. You will have to attend to find out what the Gala will be like for
our 10th annual meeting.
Third, the program. As in
previous IAMSE Annual Association Meetings, internationally recognized speakers,
interactive small group focus sessions, hands-on workshops, computer
demonstrations, individual research and curricular innovations presented through
posters and, commercial educational product exhibits will highlight this event.
International experts will give presentations on a wide range of topics
including Professionalism; Implications of Technological Advances for Curriculum
Development; Integrating Genomics into Medical Curricula; and External Forces
Driving Health Science Education. Posters play a prominent role in the meeting.
Through this venue, medical science educators present their efforts to enhance
student learning. This is an opportunity to send in an abstract describing an
innovation you have implemented in your course or curriculum. A premier feature
of the meeting is the daylong courses in faculty development which are presented
by internationally known medical educators on the Saturday before the meeting
begins. This year’s courses include topics such as
Sign up early for courses
since the number of participants is limited. Finally, the annual IAMSE debate
sets our organization apart from others. This year, debaters will examine the
role of research in achieving the mission of medical education institutions.
Fourth, the locale. IAMSE will be
celebrating its 10th annual meeting on the beautiful island of Puerto
Rico hosted by the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine. The meeting
will be held in the Caribe Hilton in San Juan. In addition to the program, San
Juan and the rest of Puerto Rico offer many attractions for site seeing or just
relaxing on the beach.
The IAMSE Annual Association meeting
provides medical science educators a place to meet colleagues from around the
world and to receive an intense faculty development experience. There is no
education meeting for medical science educators where you will get more for your
travel fund dollar than the annual meeting of IAMSE. Come with your sleeves
rolled up and ready for work.
See you in San Juan.
John L. Szarek, Ph.D.
Chair 2006 Program Committee
Giulia A. Bonaminio, Ph.D.
President of IAMSE
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