Presented By: Carol Nichols, Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine
Co-Authors: Renee Chosed, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville

Purpose 
To promote faculty development and foster better collaboration around best practices in medical education, two medical schools with similar missions and geographical proximity in South Carolina partnered to create a joint faculty development seminar series, which was implemented in the fall of 2022. 

Methods 
Leaders from two medical schools identified the need for cost-effective faculty development opportunities and worked together to develop a series of faculty development sessions and workshops that would be available to faculty at both schools and would foster education and curricular discussions between the faculty. A survey was sent to faculty at both schools to determine which faculty development topics would be most useful. The survey results guided the planning of the sessions. 

Results 
Faculty development sessions offered during AY 2022-2023 included four outside seminar speakers who presented on topics such as using curricular reform to promote faculty and student wellbeing, active learning strategies, TBL, and backward course design. The fifth session was an NBME item-writing workshop. Three sessions were presented in person (at one or both schools) with a virtual option for attendees from the other school). Two sessions were offered virtually for all attendees. An end-of-year satisfaction survey sent to faculty at both schools showed satisfaction with the program.

Conclusion 
The faculty development sessions provided an opportunity for faculty at both medical schools to learn ways to better embrace best practices related to medical education. Faculty also had opportunities to engage with different colleagues to learn from one another and share curricular ideas and experiences. Strong collaboration among the two schools and a commitment toward shared resources have contributed to the success of the program, which is continuing. This model is translatable to other medical schools that share similar missions, have geographical proximity, and are looking for collaborative and cost-effective faculty development options.