Health Professions Education Research Scholars (HERS)

High-quality education research is dependent upon those who deliver the education to also have the capacity to design and execute rigorous research programs. To meet this need, TEACH and VTCSOM Office of Educational Affairs have developed an interdisciplinary health professions education research curriculum. The HERS program will both improve the execution of health professions education at Carillon Clinic and contribute to national and international academic research on health professions education. The goal of this curriculum is to produce excellent education researchers in the health professions, through didactic and experiential sessions. Participants will complete a mentored education research project of peer-reviewed quality.

The TEACH Health Professions Education Research Scholars (HERS) Program, a unique opportunity to develop your skills in health professions education research while contributing to the advancement of educational scholarship within our organization. Enrollment is limited to a small cohort each cycle to ensure a meaningful experience for participants. This professional and academic development opportunity will provide participants with the chance to complete a high-quality health professions education research project, network with colleagues, and engage in a collaborative health professions education research learning experience. The primary goals of the HERS program are to provide participants with instruction in health professions education research principles, foster collaboration within health professions education research and develop our participants as leaders in academic medicine.

This 18-month program combines completion of the AAMC Medical Education Research Certificate (MERC) program with mentored guidance to execute a scholarly project suitable for peer-reviewed publication. Participants will also present their findings during TEACH Education Day.

Program Objectives:

1. Skill Development: Build expertise in health professions education research through the MERC program and mentored research projects.
2. Scholarly Impact: Enhance productivity and elevate the visibility of educational research at our institution.
3. Community Building: Foster a sustainable network of educator-scholars to support ongoing research initiatives.

Program Components:

• Individualized Education Plans tailored to your needs
• An assigned mentor to guide your research
• A scholarly education project focused on innovation or QI/QA
• In-person sessions (4-hours) every other month
• Monthly independent work