MERC Workshops

Medical Education to Patient Outcomes | Getting Started in Medical Education Research

Medical Education Research Certificate

MERC workshop registration is available online at the AAMC website.

Directions to workshops from JW Marriott.

Download a parking pass and map for free parking for the MERC workshops.

Getting Started in Medical Education Research

Friday, April 1, 9 - Noon, 9th Avenue Campus, SOM 0818.

The production of scholarly work in some form is a requirement for all faculty.  However, not all faculty members receive sufficient training to conduct research, particularly in the area of medical education.  Clinician educators interested in conducting medical education research and evaluation often need additional research training to begin their scholarly activities.  This training includes obtaining knowledge of the existing medical education literature, how to write a measurable research question, what is the appropriate research design to answer the research question, and what factors pose a threat to the study.  In addition, tips on how to collaborate with medical educators can be useful for clinicians who have little time and few resources to pursue new research interests.  In this workshop, we will provide practical exercises to begin the process of conducting medical education research.  Individually and in small groups, participants will brainstorm about areas of interest and will practice writing research questions that will help answer the everyday and far-reaching questions that intrigue us.  Participants will receive information on “best practices” for efficiently searching the medical education literature.  Lastly, participants will leave the session with an understanding of the best research design for their question that take into account practical limitations within their institutional setting and how to make the best out of what they have within and outside their institution.

Intended Audience:

This workshop is intended for individuals, medical educators and clinician educators, who want to learn how to design a medical education research study starting with the development of a measurable research question.

Medical Education to Patient Outcomes – Bridging the Divide

Friday, April 1, 1 - 4 pm, 9th Avenue Campus, SOM 0818.

The mission of the GEA is “to promote excellence in the education of physicians throughout their professional lives and, thereby, to contribute to improving the health of the public.”  In most of medical education the ultimate outcome of our educational interventions – health of the public – is left to others.  If we are to succeed in our mission, we must find ways in which to bridge the gap between medical education research and health outcomes research.  This is not an easy task and this goal will require collaboration between professionally-trained educators, clinical educators, and health services researchers.  Educational interventions and the learners associated with these will need to be identified throughout the continuum of medical education along with the appropriate patient population, sampling methods, and patient outcomes.  The learner will sometimes be medical students, but likely will also need to include residents and practicing physicians given the need to measure impact on a patient population.

The workshop will include a brief overview of health services research.  In addition, tips on how medical educators, health services researchers, and clinical educators can collaborate will be discussed.  In this workshop, we will provide practical exercises to begin the process of conducting medical education research linked to health outcomes research.  Individually and in small groups, participants will brainstorm about areas of interest, relevant educational interventions, level of learner, and how to link educational programs with patient outcomes.

Intended Audience:

This workshop is intended for individuals, medical educators and clinician educators, who want to learn how to design a research study that links an educational intervention with patient outcomes.