Session Coordinator: Alana Newell

Teaching and learning of medical sciences is being updated and transformed rapidly. Yet, there is a dearth of young medical science educators who are equipped or skilled to support this. Getting clinician educators to teach all medical sciences is not ideal. There is irreplaceable value in education delivered by PhD-trained medical science educators. Traditionally, these educators hailed from postdocs seeking research-related academic jobs, rather than education-focused roles. This has changed in recent years. An increasing number of postdocs are shifting their interest and attention to education-centred academic positions. However, their training tend to be research-oriented and does not adequately prepare them to take on education roles. When it comes to education, most learn on the job. If not addressed in time, the pipeline of medical science educators may run dry. Those who trickle through may be ill-prepared, affecting their professional identity and the education endeavour.

1. Participants will be able to analyse needs, opportunities and constraints within their educational contexts.
2. Participants will be able to identify the education areas required to develop young medical science educators.
3. Participants will be able to develop programs including components such as mentoring and evaluation.
4. Participants will be able to design an assessment plan for the program.