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  • Institute for Excellence in Education

Two educators teach in the front of a lecture hall at RWJMS

Institute for Excellence in Education

Our vision is to be a nationally recognized center to prepare learners to teach and care for their students and their patients.

Mission

It is the mission of the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Institute for Excellence in Education to equip current and future medical trainees and practicing physicians with the tools to educate peers and trainees in educational methodology, patient care advances and cutting edge medical technology, with the ultimate goal of propagating health and wellness to patients through the final step of translational medicine.

Pathways to Excellence

To deliver our mission, the institute has established two pathways:

  • Medical Education Scholarship Learning Community, which seeks to:
    • Support all educators and researchers across the continuum of medical education at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
    • Stimulate interest in medical education scholarship.
    • Provide faculty development in medical education and research.
    • Provide assistance for medical education research.
  • Academy of Medical Educators
    • Recognizes outstanding Robert Wood Johnson Medical School faculty who are committed to and have distinguished themselves in medical education scholarship as well as teaching.
    • Brings together a group of medical education experts who provide support for faculty who are actively pursuing educational research and for who aspire to advance their teaching skills.
    • Faculty are nominated by peers and applications are reviewed by the institute’s steering committee.
Students talk around a conference table in a classroom at RWJMS

Membership Information

  • Teaching Series

    The purpose of this professional development series is to assist in improving Robert Wood Johnson Medical School medical educators’ knowledge and skills in: teaching, curriculum design, learner feedback, and assessment. By attending the series, members will:

    • Gain an understanding of adult learning principles and learn how to apply these skills to various clinical settings.
    • Gain a common understanding about the criteria of effective teaching.
    • Observe, recognize, and comment about specific teaching techniques that promote learner-centered learning.
    • Deepen their understanding of instructional concepts and teaching processes.
    • Join a community of educators who strive for teaching excellence.
    • N.B. Those contemplating membership in the academy should have completed this series or a comparable educational program here or at another institution.

    Medical Education Research Interest Group

    This group meets every month to assist Robert Wood Johnson Medical School educators in development of medical education scholarship. Participants will:

    • Brainstorm ideas to develop an investigational question and study design.
    • Align with others from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School to form research and writing groups, increasing productivity.
    • Receive support in writing grants and IRB applications.
    • Give and receive feedback on works in progress.

    How to Join

    The Medical Education Scholarship Learning Community and its activities are open to all faculty at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. For more information, contact Sarang Kim, MD, Associate Director, IEE: sarang.kim@rutgers.edu.

  • Selection Criteria for Membership

    • Active Robert Wood Johnson Medical School teaching faculty. Faculty titles be should be unmodified but modified titles will be considered on a case by case basis
    • Accomplishments/participation in medical education scholarship efforts at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and at regional/national levels. Scholarship will be defined broadly as peer reviewed manuscripts, abstracts and extramural presentations/workshops; successful implementation of educational materials and methodologies
    • Commitment to IEE’s Medical Education Scholarship Learning Community’s activities.

    Responsibilities for Membership

    • Previously selected Academy Members will continue as members, but will be held to continuing membership requirements as the new inductees
    • After an initial application and acceptance (see below), all members must lead or participate in at least one Learning Community activity.
    • Membership term is for one year and is automatically renewed if the member fulfills a minimum of credits (10). Examples of credits include:
      • Monthly Teaching Series (1 credit per session; leading a session is 2 credits)
      • Monthly Medical Education Research Interest Group (1 credit per session)
      • Publication in a peer-reviewed journal (3 credits)
      • Leading an approved Robert Wood Johnson Medical School-based faculty development program (2 credits)
      • Presentation of original work at a regional, national or international conference (5 credits)
      • Leadership position in regional or national professional development group (3 credits)
      • Peer observation of another Member’s teaching activity with feedback (1 credit)
      • Active participation as a facilitator and curriculum contributor in Patient Centered Medicine, Foundational Sciences, or the curriculum renewal effort (10 credits)

    How to Join

    To be selected as a member of the Academy of Medical Educators, submit a completed application form, CV, teaching portfolio and letter of support to Carol A. Terregino, Founding Director, IEE: terregca@rwjms.rutgers.edu.

Richard A. Harvey Excellence in Teaching Innovation Award

Richard A. Harvey is one of three emeritus professors in the Department of Biochemistry and is recognized internationally for his authorship of texts in medical education. Dr. Harvey has established the Excellence in Teaching Innovation Award as a stimulus to teaching excellence by the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School faculty. Dr. Harvey is also a generous supporter of the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Institute for Excellence in Education.

The Office of Education and Academic Affairs is seeking nominations for this year's award. The deadline is June 7, 2024.

Nomination Process

The Richard A. Harvey Excellence in Teaching Innovation Award will be administered through the Office of Education and Academic Affairs. Nominees must be full-time faculty in either a basic science or clinical department of Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and nominations should be made by the division chief or department chair. A letter describing the nominee's educational contributions, special recognition, and innovation in medical education should be submitted to the office at rwjmsacademicaffairs@rwjms.rutgers.edu.

Nominee Requirement

Nominees also must submit a CV and a one- to two-page personal statement to rwjmsacademicaffairs@rwjms.rutgers.edu, describing their educational career trajectory, goals and aspirations; evidence of educational innovation and exceptional teaching; and specific descriptions of how the award will be used to further innovate in medical education. Previous awardees are ineligible for the award.

Selection Criteria

The award recipient will be selected by a committee from the Institute for Excellence in Education based on the following criteria:

  • A track record of innovation and service in medical education at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
  • Evidence of impact of nominee's educational scholarship at local, regional, and national levels
  • Feasibility of the proposed use of the award and its potential impact to the educational community

Past Award Recipients

  • 2023 - Igor Rybinnik, MD
  • 2022 - Malvika Kaul, PhD
  • 2021 - Kristen Coppola, PhD, Robert Lebeau, EdD, Hanin Rashid, PhD
  • 2020 - Daniel Pilch, PhD
  • 2018 - Nell Maloney Patel, MD
  • 2017 - Colleen Donovan, MD
  • 2016 - Sarang Kim, MD
  • 2015 - Emine Abali, PhD
  • 2014 - Siobhan A. Corbett, MD
  • 2013 - Diana Glendinning, PhD

Who We Are

Carol A. Terregino, MD
Founding Director
Senior Associate Dean for Education and Academic Affairs
Dr. Terregino is supported in part by the Richard A. Harvey Excellence in Teaching Award Endowment.

Sarang Kim, MD
Associate Director
Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Education, Department of Medicine

    • Archana Pradhan
    • Bob Lebeau
    • Carol Terregino
    • David Cohen
    • Diana Glendinning
    • Hanin Rashid
    • Jim Galt
    • Kristen Coppola
    • Laura Willett
    • Liesel Copeland
    • Sarang Kim
    • Victoria Wagner
    • Diana Glendinning, PhD
    • Lee Ann Schein, PhD
    • Archana Pradhan, MD
    • Robert Lebeau, EdD
    • H. Liesel Copeland, PhD
    • Hanin Rashid, PhD
    • Sarang Kim, MD
    • Grace Pinhal-Enfield, PhD
    • Malvika Kaul, PhD
    • Carol Terregino, MD
    • David Cohen, MD
    • Jim Galt
    • Kristen Coppola, PhD
    • Laura Willet, MD
    • Victoria Wagner