Medical Education & Academic Leadership Fellowship

The Latin root of doctor, docere, quite literally means to teach. It is incumbent on every physician to be a teacher in their daily practice. Few places are this truer than the Emergency Department. The basic skills of teaching should be included in every EM curriculum, so that EM physicians can confidently instruct colleagues and patients alike. However, there is a significant difference between teachers and educators. Teachers are the “sages on the stage” that focus on delivering content in the best way that they can. Educators, however, should be thought of as “guides on the side” whose expert insights on the methods in which their learners learn culminate to create lasting behavior change.

The UH EM Medical Education & Academic Leadership Fellowship is designed for physicians-teachers wishing to grow into thoughtful educators who apply the principles that govern learning systematically and seek to advance education in EM. The fellowship builds this foundation through pursuit of a Master’s in Education at Cleveland State University. In addition to the coursework, fellows gain practical skills in medical education leadership through a variety of experiential learning opportunities including:

• Assistant Clerkship Director: Supporting the growth and assessment of a range of undergraduate medical education learners in both the third- & fourth-year EM clinical rotations while participating in a continuous cycle of curriculum design.

• Junior Assistant Program Director: Growing the EM residency through a variety of teaching, curriculum design, and administrative roles in graduate medical education. Fellows are members of several core committees to the residency to build experience navigating accreditation requirements including: 

• Program Evaluation Committee

• Resident Recruitment Committee

• Clinical Competency Committee

• Knowledge Translation Ambassadors: Supplementing the peer review, continuing medical education, and quality work of the ED through in vivo simulations for practicing EM physicians throughout the UH system.

While these opportunities provide the foundation of experiential learning in the fellowship, fellows are encouraged to explore other areas of interest or apply the principles of medical education to additional niche areas with the assistance of the fellowship faculty. Additionally, fellows are encouraged to pursue a variety of additional education and leadership experiences on both the national and local level, including national involvement in EM and educational organizations or participation in local opportunities such as UH’s Leadership Institute, or Case Western Reserve University’s Center for Medical Education.

The monthly fellowship meetings are structured around two key components that include a medical education journal club and the educator’s round table, where we discuss the application of core education theory and concepts to the world of health professions education.

By the end of the fellowship, trainees will be equipped to take on a variety of leadership roles in academia. Through the development of a robust education portfolio over the experience, fellows will be able to articulate the theoretical underpinning of their approach to education, display their growth as educators and demonstrate the value they will bring to any new role. In addition, our fellows have presented their innovative work and scholarship in a variety of national forums, such as the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine & Council of Residency Director’s in EM. Alumni of the program have achieved roles in several EM programs across the nation including as Assistant Residency Directors and core educational faculty.