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 David Harris.

David Harris
Professor of Medical Education
University of Central Florida College of Medicine, USA
Medical Science Educator Editor-in-Chief

How long have you been a member of IAMSE? 
I just received my 10-year certificate at the IAMSE 2023 Conference!

Congratulations on the beginning of your time as the Editor-in-Chief of Medical Science Educator (MSE)! How did you originally get involved with the MSE? And what inspired you to take on your new role?
Thank you as I am honored. My initial involvement with the journal was serving as a reviewer like most of the Editorial Board members. I have been inspired by how the journal has flourished in the past decade under Peter de Jong’s leadership. I believe Medical Science Educator represents the great work of IAMSE and through it illustrates the values of the association and how it can lead in health sciences education throughout the world. It is indeed the outward face of IAMSE. I hope that by working with the dedicated Board and reviewers that we can continue the upward trajectory and impact of the journal.

Looking at your time with the Association, what have you most enjoyed doing? What are you looking forward to?
I love the Annual Conferences. I enjoy seeing familiar faces, but also meeting new people who come from different backgrounds and experiences. I have made many friends through focus session activities. The things I look most forward to include meeting those people attending for the first time. Usually, they feel very welcomed and so impressed with the staff and organization of the conferences that IAMSE becomes their “home”. 

What would you say to someone who is interested in getting involved with the MSE, either by submitting a manuscript or becoming a reviewer?
My advice for anyone reviewing or submitting a manuscript is that you should be courageous – not be afraid to do either. If you are just beginning to do educational research, reviewing is a great way to see how the process works. This includes reviewing papers that may not necessarily be in your “wheelhouse” as that is an opportunity to learn. We also hold workshops to help new and experienced reviewers, which is rather unique to IAMSE. If you are considering submitting a manuscript, I also feel you should not be afraid to do so. In my experience, educational research reviews are some of the most constructive, fair, and helpful that I’ve received.    

Anything else that you would like to add?
I am grateful for all the great people I have met in IAMSE, colleagues that I have worked with, and of course the JulNet staff that is fabulous in what they do. I definitely feel this association is my home society.

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 Amanda Chase.

Amanda Chase
Associate Professor of Medical Education
Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine
Nova Southeastern University
IAMSE Educational Scholarship Committee Chair

How long have you been a member of IAMSE? 
Following great advice from a colleague, I submitted an abstract to the 2018 Annual Conference and became a member of IAMSE in 2018.

Looking at your time with the Association, what have you most enjoyed doing? What are you looking forward to?
I enjoy learning from amazing educators at IAMSE Café Sessions, Virtual Forums, and Annual Conferences. Participating as a member on IAMSE committees has been very rewarding as well. I feel a great sense of value and belonging in the presence of the IAMSE membership. I’m looking forward to future conferences where I can spend more time with my IAMSE family. The valuable mentorship that I receive from them is unparalleled.

What can you tell us about chairing the Educational Scholarship Committee? What does your committee do and what role does the chair play?
As Chair of the IAMSE Educational Scholarship Committee, I have developed meaningful skills in leadership and mentorship. The position has allowed me to learn more about the dedication and diligence of the individuals who make up the IAMSE Association. The Educational Scholarship Committee looks for ways to enhance the professional development of IAMSE members. Two important initiatives are the Medical Educator Fellowship Program and the Educational Scholarship/Curriculum Innovation Grant Program. Through these programs, we support the IAMSE Association in its goals to provide professional development for faculty and fund educational scholarship and curriculum innovation.

Tell us about the Fellowship Program. How has it changed over the years? How does it benefit those who go through the program?
The IAMSE Medical Educator Fellowship Program is a two-year program that provides peer mentoring and guidance while fellows develop and execute an educational research project. The main goal of the program is to develop well-rounded health education scholars with additional evidence of specialized achievement that enhances career development. Over the years, we’ve seen tremendous growth in the number of fellows entering the program each year. In 2022, we moved to offer entry into the program twice per year. In addition, we’ve transitioned to mostly virtual meetings which allows us to diversify enrollment and expand to underrepresented countries. Joining the Fellowship Program kick starts your educational research and is a great way to become more involved in the IAMSE Association. Many of our previous fellows are now mentors in the fellowship program.

How has IAMSE benefitted your career?
IAMSE has meaningfully influenced my professional identity formation as an educator. At IAMSE Annual Conferences and Virtual Forums, I learn about best practices in scholarship, teaching, and learning. At IAMSE gatherings, I feel welcome to discuss issues affecting health science education and educators. The mentors and colleagues I’ve met through IAMSE are superb and this is why I call IAMSE my home. 

Anything else that you would like to add?
I would like to thank past and present members of the Educational Scholarship Committee for their passion and dedication to the health science community. Please feel free to reach out to me if you are interested in learning more about the Fellowship Program for yourself or your colleagues.

Due January 15, 2024

As a reminder, IAMSE is currently soliciting applications for the IAMSE-ScholarRx Educational Research Grant Program.

Students must be members of IAMSE to be eligible to apply for this grant. All students will need to have a faculty mentor sign off on the proposal confirming that all policies will be met. Proposals must be accompanied by a letter from an appropriate institutional official confirming that the institution will pay to send the student to the IAMSE meeting the year following project completion to present the results of the proposed work; timing of the presentation is flexible as to be appropriate for the completion of the project. Up to four (4) student grants will be awarded for up to $2500 USD.

Applications are to be submitted on the submission page found here by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on January 15, 2024. 

All information regarding the IAMSE-ScholarRx Educational Research Grant Program, including the application process, eligibility, proposal format, and evaluation criteria, can be found on the IAMSE website here. A template for the budget can be found here. Note that you may need to open the template in another window to download it. 

The International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE) is pleased to announce that applications for the 2024 Medical Educator Fellowship (MEF) Program are now being accepted! IAMSE is once again offering members and non-members the option of completing the MEF Program 100% virtually, from any location around the globe.

The primary goal of the MEF is to support the development of well-rounded healthcare education scholars through a program of targeted professional development and application of learned concepts to mentored research projects. The program is designed for healthcare educators from all backgrounds who wish to enhance their knowledge and productivity as educational scholars.

Please note that as a prerequisite, applicants are required to have completed the Essential Skills in Medical Education (ESME) Program. For more detailed information about the program, please visit the information on our website at http://www.iamse.org/fellowship-program/.

Applicants for the next cohort will be accepted until December 1, 2023. To submit your application, fill out this application form, then email the completed form along with your ESME Completion Certificate and your CV to support@iamse.org

In case your application is accepted, you will be invited to an online kickoff meeting on December 13, 2023. For questions about the Fellowship or how to apply, please contact support@iamse.org. We thank you for your interest and look forward to supporting you in achieving your professional goals in educational scholarship.