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 those “guides on the sides” 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 those physicians-teachers wishing to grow into thoughtful educators who apply the principles that govern learning systematically. The fellowship builds the foundation of this insight through pursuit of a Master’s in Education through Cleveland State University. In addition to the coursework, fellows gain practical skills in medical education leadership through a variety of experiential learning including:

• Assistant Clerkship Directors: 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 Directors: 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.

The monthly fellowship meetings are structured around two key components including a medical education journal club and our educator’s round table, where we discuss the application of core education theory and concepts to the world of health professions education. Additionally, all fellows take part in our leadership curriculum. This includes book clubs to dissect and apply the science of leadership to both the clinical and academic environments. The UH Department of Emergency Medicine also oversees Case Western Reserve University’s School of Medicine Transition to Residency Program which fellows help to plan and lead. Fellows are encouraged to pursue a variety of additional experiences 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.

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.