About the Foundations of Health Professions
Education Course (Foundations)

In 2024, IAMSE refreshed its introductory course in educational principles, previously known as Essential Skills in Medical Education (ESME) to Foundations of Health Professions Education (to be known as the Foundations course).

With the increasing professionalization of medical education, the need for faculty in the healthcare professions to have training in educational principles is widely recognized. While many institutions worldwide offer certificate or Master’s degree courses in medical education, there is a lack of accredited basic level courses. The new Foundations course has been designed to meet the need for an entry level survey of principles in health professions education. Foundations will be of particular interest to faculty who are involved with health professions education for the first time, or who have been given some new responsibilities or assignment relating to teaching. Others will find this course useful as a refresher course or update.

IAMSE is pleased to offer the course, which will start a day before the Annual Conference, and it is designed to be specifically relevant to medical science educators. Successful completion of the Foundations course is a pre-requisite for the IAMSE Fellowship Program.

Applications for the Foundations Course are Due May 15

Apply for the Foundations Course*

*Please note that the application for the course is separate from the registration path, but you will still need to be registered for the Conference to attend. 

Foundations Course Schedule during the IAMSE 2025 Conference

*Schedule is subject to change

Day 1: Friday (Full-Day Workshop)

Introduction to the Course (9:00 AM - 9:30 AM MDT) 

  • Course Leaders and Admin
  • Participants
  • Goals

Module 1 Principles of Curricular Design (9:30 AM - 12:00 PM MDT)

  • Overview of Learning Theories (Cognitive Integration) 
  • Defining the ‘Curriculum’ 
  • Introduction to the Learning Environment 
  • Outcomes Based Education 
  • Breakout Activities and Reflection

Module 2 - Teaching methods (1:00 PM - 3:00 PM MDT) 

  • Active Learning/Flipped Classroom (Rationale and How To)
  • Large Group Facilitation (Team-Based Learning, Audience-Response Systems)
  • Small Group Facilitation (Group Formation, Problem-Based Learning, Case Discussions)
  • Peer Teaching/Learning
  • Independent Learning (Self-Directed vs Directed Self-Learning)
  • Lecture and Use of Video Instruction
  • Breakout Activities and Reflection

Module 3 - Assessment and Evaluation (3:15 PM - 5:00 PM MDT) 

  • Purpose of Course/Curricular Assessment
  • Frameworks for Assessment
  • Forms of Assessment 
  • Alignment (of Assessments with Desired Learning Outcomes)
  • Giving Feedback
  • Program Evaluation
  • Teaching Evaluation
  • Breakout Activities and Reflection 


Day 2: Saturday (Half-Day Workshop, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM MDT)

Module 4: Educational Scholarship: (9:00 AM - 10:30 AM MDT) 

  • Definitions of Educational Scholarship
  • Education Research: Study Design
  • Dissemination

Module 5: Educational Leadership (10:45 AM - 12:00 PM MDT) 

  • The Teacher as a Leader 


Day 3: Sunday
Attendance at IAMSE Conference sessions, and a dedicated feedback session with course faculty.


Day 4: Monday
Attendance at IAMSE Conference sessions, and a dedicated feedback session with course faculty.


Day 5: Tuesday
Attendance at IAMSE Conference sessions, and a dedicated working lunch with course faculty to complete the course. 

Discussion of how to keep up to date, further information on how to obtain the Certificate of Completion of Foundations in Health Professions Education and how to proceed to the IAMSE Medical Educator Fellowship Program.

Faculty for the Foundations Course

Aviad Haramati Ph.D, Professor of Physiology and Medicine, and Director of the Center for Innovation and Leadership in Education (CENTILE), at Georgetown University Medical Center.
 
Amber J. Heck, PhD, Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences at the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

Cost of the Foundations Course

The $675.00 USD course includes:
  • participation in Foundations full-day pre-conference session on Friday and Saturday morning;
  • feedback sessions with faculty on Sunday and Monday;
  • post-conference session on Tuesday;
  • Foundations resource materials, including a copy of Professor Harden’s Book, Essential Skills for a Medical Teacher, in electronic format;
  • award of a Certificate of Attendance;
  • opportunity to submit short report for assessment for Certificate of Completion of the Foundations in Health Profession Education Course.
Course participants are encouraged to register (for an additional fee) and attend an IAMSE Professional Development Workshop of their choice, on Saturday afternoon.

Report leading to Certificate of Completion of the Foundations Course

To earn the Certificate of Completion, following completion of the Foundations Course, and after returning to their institutions, participants must submit a short report (8-10 pages) describing the application of the Course Principles in their own teaching practice. The report is due within six months after completion of the Foundations course and will be read by one of the course leaders. Once deemed acceptable, the participant will be awarded the IAMSE Certificate of Completion of the Foundations in Health Professions Education Course. This Certificate of Completion fulfills the pre-requisite for enrollment in the IAMSE Medical Educator Fellowship.