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.
The International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE) is pleased to announce the call for abstracts for Lightning Talk presentations for the fourth IAMSE Virtual Forum to be held October 22-24, 2025. The IAMSE Virtual Forum is an entirely virtual synchronous event offering opportunities for faculty and student development and networking, bringing together medical sciences and medical education across the continuum of healthcare education.
Lightning Talks are short 7-minute live presentations followed by 7-minutes of questions and answers that will provide presenters a chance to share their work, including works in process. Abstracts for Lightning Talks must be submitted in the format requested through the online abstract submission site here.
The submission deadline is July 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM EDT.
There is no limit on the number of abstracts you may submit, but it is unlikely that more than one presentation per presenter can be accepted due to scheduling complexities. Abstract acceptance notifications will be returned in September 2025. Please contact support@iamse.org for any questions about your submission.
Looking forward to seeing you virtually this October!
This year, IAMSE showcased over 320 poster and oral presentations, with 12 posters and 5 oral presentations nominated for an award. These awards recognize the most outstanding medical education peer-reviewed presentations at the IAMSE Annual Conference. The first author on the winning poster receives a plaque, one year of IAMSE membership, and access to one series of the IAMSE Audio Seminars.
A full listing of this year’s Best Poster Presentation Award nominees and Best Oral Presentation Award nominees can be found at www.iamseconference.org.
Outstanding Faculty Oral Presentation Leveraging Student Elevations to Enhance Faculty Development: A Framework for Effective Teaching in Medical Education Presented by: Connie Gan – Stanford University (United States) Click here for the abstract!
Outstanding Student Oral Presentation Stress, Burnout, and Health Perception Amongst Medical Students and the Need for Facilitation of Healthy Management Strategies Presented by: Grant Barber – Sam Houston State College of Osteopathic Medicine (United States) Click here for the abstract!
Outstanding Faculty Poster Presentation Contrasting Student and Faculty Perceptions of the Qualities of Effective Feedback in the Pre-Clerkship Curriculum Presented by: Joshua Culberson – University of Central Florida (United States) Click here for the abstract!
Outstanding Student Poster Presentation Investigating the Role of Socioeconomic and First-Generation Status in Academic Performance of Medical Students: Insights From Step 1, Step 2, GPA and MCAT Data Presented by: Shauna Groven – Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at University of Nevada Las Vegas (United States) Click here for the abstract!
Please join us in congratulating the winners of this year’s awards. If you are interested in submitting an abstract for a poster or oral presentation for the 2026 Annual Conference, you may do so at the beginning of October. More information will be shared later this year.
IAMSE is pleased to invite you to join us for the Fourth Annual IAMSE Virtual Forum. The Forum will take place October 22-24, 2025. Join us as we engage with a diverse network of international health science educators to gain insights from the global community. What are the similarities and differences in healthcare education globally? What can we learn from each other? How is access to technology and AI, and the changing landscape of health education aligned globally? This year’s event will explore three key sub-themes: Curriculum and Assessment, AI & Technology, and Career and Professional Development. The overall theme for the 2025 Virtual Forum is:
“A Global Vision for Health Education: Empowering an International Community of Educators”
Forum Sub-Theme Information
AI and Technology: AI is transforming health education—but with promise comes concern. Share how you’re using AI to enhance learning, administrative efficiency, and clinical decision-making—while addressing ethics, academic integrity, over-reliance, and data privacy. Let’s explore what AI can realistically offer—alongside proven tools.
Career and Professional Development: Professional development is at the heart of the IAMSE. Share your strategies and insights to support the growth of educators, learners, and colleagues. Submit your abstracts and help shape the future of health professions education community!
Curriculum and Assessment: Share how you’re transforming curriculum and assessment to enhance learner outcomes. We welcome proposals on instructional innovations, continuous quality improvement, the use of tech and 3rd-party tools, interprofessional development education, culturally responsive strategies, and more – tell us what you’re doing, how and why.
Presentation Descriptions
Ignite talk: Throughout the forum, there will be three ignite talks. These sessions are intended to be highly interactive to ignite and inspire discussions around key ideas or emerging topics. Ignite Presenters are selected by the Virtual Forum Program Committee.
Lightning Talks: These short sessions, 7-minute presentations with 7-minutes of questions and answers, provide all scholars with a chance to share their works including works in process.
Important Deadlines
July 31, 2025 – Lightning Talk Abstract Deadline August 2025 – Registration Open! September 1, 2025 – Lightning Talk Notification Deadline September 15, 2025 – Early Bird Deadline September 15, 2025 – Presenter Registration Deadline* October 2025 – Presentation Schedule Finalized October 22-24, 2025 – IAMSE 2025 Virtual Forum
*Any presenter who is not registered by this date will have their name pulled from the forum program. If the presenter is the only presenter listed, their session will be pulled from the forum program.
Tentative Forum Schedule
Schedule subject to change, the finalized schedule will be listed on the Virtual Forum registration website when it opens later this year
Date
Session
Start Time (EDT)
End Time (EDT)
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Virtual Help Desk
9:30 AM
10:00 AM
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Welcome
10:00 AM
10:15 AM
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Ignite Talk
10:15 AM
11:15 AM
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Break
11:15 AM
11:30 AM
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
IAMSE Update
11:30 AM
12:00 PM
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Lightning Talks
12:00 PM
1:00 PM
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Virtual Help Desk
9:30 AM
10:00 AM
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Welcome
10:00 AM
10:15 AM
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Ignite Talk
10:15 AM
11:15 AM
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Break
11:15 AM
11:30 AM
Thursday, October 23, 2025
IAMSE Update
11:30 AM
12:00 PM
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Lightning Talks
12:00 PM
1:00 PM
Friday, October 24, 2025
Virtual Help Desk
9:30 AM
10:00 AM
Friday, October 24, 2025
Welcome
10:00 AM
10:15 AM
Friday, October 24, 2025
Lightning Talks
10:15 AM
11:15 AM
Friday, October 24, 2025
Break
11:15 AM
11:30 AM
Friday, October 24, 2025
IAMSE Update
11:30 AM
12:00 PM
Friday, October 24, 2025
Ignite Talk
12:00 PM
1:00 PM
Friday, October 24, 2025
Virtual Forum Close
1:00 PM
1:15 PM
Are you in a different time zone? Click here to see what time the sessions will be for you!
Registration Fees
The registration fees for the IAMSE 2025 Virtual Forum are currently being finalized. When the fees are confirmed, they will be added here.
The International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE) wishes to encourage and support scholarship in medical science education and funds multiple research grants every year. At the 2025 Annual Conference, IAMSE, with the support of ScholarRX, awarded four student grants totaling $10,000. In addition, five faculty grants were given totaling $21,920.
Student Awards
IAMSE-ScholarRx Aakash Gandhi Windsor University School of Medicine Evaluation and Improvement of a New Undergraduate Medical Simulation Curriculum
Stirling Argabright Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Domestic Global Health: Training Medical Students in Cross-Cultural Care to Serve the Immigrant and Refugee Patient Population
Sydney Elder Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy Pharmacy students utilizing Team-Based Learning for Exam Review Sessions: An Innovative Model to Enhance Engagement, Accountability, and Academic Success
Danielle Kapustin University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine Transforming Embryology Education: Innovative Approaches to Interactive Medical Instruction
Faculty Awards
IAMSE-ScholarRx Curriculum Development Bei Zhang Robert Larner, M.D., College of Medicine at the University of Vermont EmpowerMED: Navigating the Medical School Learning Odyssey
IAMSE Curriculum Innovation Erica Malone University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences From Simulation to Application: The Design and Implementation of a High-Fidelity Simulation Model in Regional Anesthesia Education
Samiksha Prasad Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine at Nova Southeastern University Development and Implementation of a Multi-institutional Framework for Professional Development for Wellness for Medical Educators
IAMSE Educational Scholarship Karen Nelson Sam Houston State University Transforming Teaching Approaches for Breaking Bad News: Incorporating a Research Team-Developed Voice-Based Chatbot for Communication Training
Ahdeah Poojesh-Ganji The George Washington University And You Yourselves Are Also This Will o Power – and Nothing Besides!: Medical Students and the Purpose of Medical Education
Congratulations to this year’s grant award winners. We are eager to see and hear about your findings. More information regarding IAMSE Educational Grants, including information on submitting yourself for consideration, can be found on our website.
Thank you, IAMSE Educational Scholarship & Student Professional Development Committees
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.
