National Academy of Osteopathic Medical Educators (NAOME) Applications Invited
The inaugural NAOME fellows, inducted at the 2009 AACOM Annual Meeting, have revised the initial standards and processes for determining NAOME membership to more closely reflect the teaching/learning models in osteopathic medical education, including the integration of osteopathic principles and practices. The 2010 application process is now open. Osteopathic medical educators are invited to review the NAOME web materials, which are designed to facilitate the creation and submission of a mini educational portfolio, and to submit their application before the January 15, 2010, deadline. Contact Linda Heun, PhD, with questions and input.
Directions Developed at First Meeting of the NAOME
By Neal R. Chamberlain, PhD, and
Luke Mortensen, PhD, FAHA, EMT; NAOME Fellows
On April 17, 2009, 12 faculty members representing seven osteopathic medical schools – ranging from California to Pennsylvania – were inducted into the National Academy of Osteopathic Medical Educators (NAOME). The charter group was welcomed into NAOME during the awards banquet at AACOM’s Annual Meeting in Bethesda, Maryland.
NAOME is the first of its kind. Though there are many academies of faculty educators around the United States, they consist only of faculty educators from their particular college or university. NAOME is the first national academy of medical education leaders.
Immediately following the awards banquet inauguration, the Academy came together for its first official meeting. Linda Heun, PhD, (AACOM Vice President for Medical Education) and Nancy Searle, EdD, (Director of the Fulbright and Jaworski L.L.P. Faculty Excellence Award Program, Director of the Academy of Distinguished Educators, Program Director of Faculty Development and Recognition, and Associate Professor in the Pediatrics and Medicine Department at Baylor College of Medicine) kicked off the meeting with invaluable advice and suggestions. Based on these suggestions, the 10 charter members present deliberated on several items:
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Academy members will be deemed “Fellows” and will be officially able to indicate this distinction on official communications using the title and the newly designed NAOME seal.
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The Fellows nominated and unanimously elected Michael L. Kuchera, DO, (Director, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Research, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine) as chairperson of NAOME.
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The Fellows discussed the production of exemplars for future Academy applicants as they prepare their admission applications.
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The Fellows discussed strategies for encouraging colleagues and other osteopathic college faculty to consider applying to the Academy.
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The Fellows discussed potential modifications to the NAOME portion of the AACOM website.
The Fellows were excited to meet together and discuss ideas for NAOME’s future. Certainly, the future of the Academy – its aims, direction, influence and efficacy – is in the hands of its present and future members. Each and every Fellow envisions the growth of NAOME to incorporate representatives from more osteopathic medical schools. They also strongly encourage faculty at all schools to become familiar with the application information on the NAOME web site toward determining self-nomination and potential membership in this unique and distinguished Academy of osteopathic medical educators.
2010 Med Ed Mini-Research Grant Topics Announced;
Applications Invited
The following topics have been established for AACOM’s 2010 Medical Education Mini-Grants:
1) Identification of best practices in the teaching/learning and assessment of the core competencies
2) Identification of the distinctive features of osteopathic medical education, e.g., training in the use of touch as part of osteopathic practice, more clinical work in outpatient settings
3) Identification of faculty/preceptor development approaches leading to positive change in student learning outcomes, or student attitudes and opinions toward teaching/learning (could apply to new or current faculty/preceptors
4) Studies comparing the outcomes of student learning in inpatient and outpatient teaching/learning environments
5) Identification of the impact of technology integration into the teaching/learning process
Osteopathic Medical Education Researchers are invited to review the protocols for application and submit a proposal before January 5, 2010.
Contact Linda Heun, PhD, lheun@aacom.org with questions and input.
AACOM Student Career Planning Web Resource Available
In mid-July, 2009, an AACOM web-based Student Career Planning Web Resource went live. There are many people who had meaningful input into the current iteration of this web resource, but all those involved would agree that it would not exist without the leadership and perseverance of Marguerite Elliott, DO, Director of Osteopathic Medical Education, University of Wisconsin/Madison.
Dr. Elliott, a former COSGP member, joins me in acknowledging the work of Anne Jones, DO, and others on the COSGP MedEd Committee and their great assistance in shaping the original framework of the resource and initiating the “Student Perspective” tab contents.
To make this a living, growing resource, we invite your review and input. Please contact Linda Heun, lheun@aacom.org in this regard.
New Education Scholar Module Available
A new module has been added to the online series of Education Scholar Modules that focuses on the preceptor as an educator.
The goals of the new module, Learning in the Experiential Setting, are to:
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Define the attributes and characteristics of a preceptor.
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Develop educational objectives for your experiential rotation site.
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Describe the different types of tools used in instructional development in experiential education.
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Select and organize appropriate learning experiences for learners in the clinical setting.
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Assess the effectiveness of clinical learning experiences.
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Discuss the role of communication in experiential education and how to successfully incorporate it into clinical learning experiences.
Learn more about the new module at the link above.
Genomics Curriculum Blueprint Drafted
In June, 2009, Dr. Leonard Levy at NSU-COM represented AACOM at an NIH conference regarding the development of a genomic medicine curriculum for primary care physicians. The goals of the conference were:
1) To define the current landscape of primary care education in genetics and genomics from the perspective of the genetics, primary care and academic medical communities.
2) To identify core educational needs in genetics and genomics as defined by primary care communities.
3) To identify opportunities and barriers that face efforts to enhance primary care provider genetic/genomic literacy.
4) To propose concrete strategies to take advantage of existing opportunities for genetics/genomics education at various stages of primary care physician education.
5) To plan next steps.
See the Curriculum Blueprint and contact Leonard Levy, DPM, MPH, levyleon@nova.edu for additional information.
International OME Collaborative
The students who constitute Generation Next, the millennial generation, have a more global perspective than any student body in history. They are seeking to travel, work and learn in other countries. And U.S. colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) are providing them with a variety of international experiences. But a variety of issues arise when these experiences become part of the curriculum and occur under academic sponsorship.
COM representatives with an interest in international medical education gathered during the last two AACOM Annual Meetings to discuss emerging issues. Lectures were given, people shared experiences and ideas, and a new group emerged. The International Collaborative is an evolving interest group and listserv. To sign up for the listserv, or to receive additional information, contact Tyler Cymet, DO, or India Broyles, EdD.
Competencies Update
NBOME takes lead on moving osteopathic medical education from seven competencies to six. See the rationale and the suggested six competencies on the NBOME web site.
AAMC recommends pre-medical school competencies. The following two articles from Inside Higher Education focus on the issue of competencies and the recommended medical school pre-requisite competencies. Article titles are linked to the full article.
Invitation to Join the Society of Osteopathic Medical Educators
SOME is an open-membership society of osteopathic medical educators (faculty and staff) who are involved in planning and/or providing osteopathic medical education programs along the full continuum of osteopathic medical education. SOME seeks to include those involved in educational programs at the colleges of osteopathic medicine, osteopathic post-graduate training institutions (OPTIs), specialty colleges and continuing medical education programs.
SOME's mission is to promote the continuous collaborative improvement of osteopathic medical education. Currently, SOME has 450 members, including educators from every college of osteopathic medicine.
Learn more and join SOME.