IAMSE Communities of Growth (CoGs) are ongoing groups of like-minded individuals who want to informally get together to connect over an area or topic of interest. A Community of Growth is not directly connected to any Committee and is self-organized, and all CoGs are open to all IAMSE members. For more information on IAMSE CoGs, click here.
The AI CoG, Black Medical Educators CoG, and Humanistic Belonging in Medical Education CoG (formerly the LGBTQ+ Community in Health Professions Education CoG) will all be meeting in February! Below are the details for each meeting. Please note that CoG Zoom links, meeting IDs, and passcodes have changed from what they have previously been. The updated links are listed below.
AI CoG
The AI CoG meeting on Zoom will take place at Noon (12 PM) EST on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. 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, email Doug McKell at douglas.mckell@gmail.com.
At the February AI CoG meeting, plans for three principal activities in 2026 will be discussed. This is an effort to get valuable feedback from members on what they want, what they need, and what they are interested in. Drs. Steve Garwood and Joseph Willimans will be leading presentations and are interested in knowing what AI CoG members want to hear about, i.e. topics and issues. Drs. Leah Hammer and Carmel McNicholas-Bevense have been completing the signup process for the previously regular basis during the year to share their AI-supported activities on the topic of the group they chose to join. They will share the program’s specifics and the schedule for getting started. Drs. Mari Hopper and Mark Hernandez have agreed to lead a new offering, the AI Tools Application Workshops, which will be a periodic “hands on” application. They want to hear what areas are of interest to AI CoG members. Please join us for an engaging AI CoG direction-setting discussion. As a member-based group, your voice is important! See you on February 4th!
To join the February AI CoG Zoom meeting, click here.
Meeting ID: 966 6621 1082
Passcode: 361577
Black Medical Educators CoG
The IAMSE Black Medical Educators CoG meeting will take place at 12:30 PM EST Friday, February 6, 2026. IAMSE Black Medical Educators CoG meetings take place quarterly at 12:30 PM ET on the first Friday in May, August, November, and February. If you are interested in learning more about this CoG and/or how to become a member, please contact Jacqueline Powell at jpowell@msm.edu.
To join the November Black Medical Educators CoG Zoom meeting, click here.
Meeting ID: 945 0993 9814
Passcode: 054506
Humanistic Belonging in Medical Education CoG
(formerly LGBTQ+ CoG)
The Humanistic Belonging in Medical Education CoG (formerly the LGBTQ+ CoG) is for health profession educators interested in fostering learning environments where all learners, educators, and clinicians experience respect, dignity, and a sense of belonging. This community advances humanistic educational practices that support identity, professional formation, and wellbeing, including education related to SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression), across the continuum of medical education.
Designed as an open and innovative gathering place, this CoG welcomes a wide range of perspectives and encourages thoughtful dialogue in pursuit of academic excellence. Programming emphasizes engagement and education for faculty, staff, and learners, including discussions and training opportunities focused on humanistic patient care, and on how lived experience and identity shape learning environments and professional growth.
As health professions educators, we recognize that cultivating belonging requires ongoing reflection and intentional efforts to strengthen educational cultures. Through shared learning and community-building, this CoG promotes educational practices that help learners feel acknowledged, supported, and able to thrive.
The Humanistic Belonging in Medical Education CoG meeting will take place on Zoom at 12:00 PM EST on Thursday, February 12, 2026. The next Humanistic Belonging in Medical Education CoG meeting will be in May. For more information on this CoG, contact Cory Gerwe at gerwecd@odu.edu.
To join the February Humanistic Belonging in Medical Education CoG meeting, click here.
Meeting ID: 953 6376 6152
Passcode: 010159