Emphasizing the importance of teaching medical students, residents and fellows—while balancing commitments to research and service—80 Keck School of Medicine faculty and staff gathered Dec. 3 for a retreat focused on challenges and opportunities for enhancing medical education.

"One of the most important duties of the Keck School of Medicine is the education of its medical students," said Henri Ford, vice dean for medical education. "Active participation of the entire faculty in medical student education at various levels is essential in order for the Keck School to fulfill its core mission."

Ford reported that the Medical Education leadership and staff are working to promote an optimal learning environment for students by ensuring that the faculty is committed to teaching and has adequate resources and preparation to be effective teachers, mentors and role models.

Allan Abbott, associate dean for curriculum and continuing medical education, highlighted the innovative aspects of the years 1 and 2 curriculum and the success enjoyed by Keck students taking the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 exam. Further changes were proposed for years 3 and 4 of the curriculum in an effort to enhance the clinical experience of Keck students.

According to Keck School Dean Carmen A. Puliafito, education for medical students is inextricably linked to training for residents and fellows. "We need more faculty committed to teaching roles at all levels, and we need to recognize the efforts that our faculty put into teaching," he said.

To foster such recognition, a proposed Educational Activity Report was unveiled as an online tool for documenting teaching efforts. Faculty would use the report to record the hours they spend in lectures, small group teaching, laboratory settings and other teaching roles, including mentoring, career advising, etc. The documentation would be reported to department chairs and considered for recognition, including promotion and merit reviews.

Judy Garner, senior associate dean for faculty affairs, noted that tenure track promotion requires a track record in teaching. At the junior level, she explained, less service is expected but faculty must do well in teaching and research. "At the senior level, promotion depends on leadership in research and teaching, as well as significant school, university, national and international service," she said.

Garner noted that approximately two-thirds of Keck School faculty are on the clinical track. For these faculty, teaching can be the major area in which they excel and the primary basis for their promotion.

Among the timely topics discussed during the four-hour retreat was preparation for the November 2009 site visit by the Liaison Committee for Medical Education.

Puliafito pointed out that issues raised in previous site visits have been effectively addressed, but keeping communication lines open to hear medical student concerns is essential as is a timely response.

Creating a positive educational environment for medical students, residents and fellows is vitally important, emphasized Donna Elliott, associate dean for student affairs, and Larry Opas, associate dean for graduate medical education.

"We need to promote and maintain a culture of professionalism, which requires ongoing vigilance by all our Keck leaders," Elliott said. "Lapses in professional behavior must be addressed, and extraordinary professional behavior should be rewarded."

Opas outlined specific requirements for the Keck School and LAC+USC Medical Center to achieve a five-year accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education when it conducts an institutional survey in April 2010.

"The highest possible accreditation is for five years, and that is what we want," Opas said. "Among other things, that will require keen attention to any residents who do not feel engaged in our programs."

In discussing another dimension of medical education, Abbott briefed attendees on the Keck School's Continuing Medical Education (CME) program. "CME serves to promote lifelong learning through the participation of our medical students, residents and fellows," he said. "CME is also vitally important to maintaining the image of the Keck School regionally, nationally and internationally."

Abbott and his staff are considering ways to make CME offerings more interactive, building on the effectiveness of current courses and strengthening the referral base to Keck's Doctors of USC.