Academy of Scholar Educators

Since 2017, the Academy of Scholar Educators has served as an active service community for medical educators at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Membership in the academy recognizes faculty who have made sustained and significant contributions to excellence and innovation in medical education. 

This community of educators aims to promote personal and professional development, provide increased opportunities for mentoring, and advance educator recognition. Each spring, there is a call for applications for new nominees to the Academy of Scholar Educators. 

Membership Levels

Three levels of membership exist, each of which lasts for a three-year term. Membership is renewable with evidence of active education scholarship and statement of renewed commitment to ongoing engagement. Membership levels include:

• Master Teacher: This designation primarily correlates to the academic rank of full professor and recognizes high levels of achievement in medical education including scholarly contributions. Master teachers demonstrate excellence in at least four areas of education within their teaching portfolio. 
• Scholars: This designation primarily correlates to the academic rank of associate professor, with the exception of external recognition. Scholars must demonstrate excellence in at least three areas of education within their teaching portfolio. 
• Fellows: This designation is for temporary members who are currently in training as residents or fellows but have been recognized as talented and dedicated medical education professionals. Residents who are part of the Leadership in Medical Education – Collaborative (LME-C) tracks within our affiliate hospitals are automatically given fellow membership status in the Academy of Scholar Educators. 

Academy Eligibility

To be eligible for the Academy of Scholar Educators at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, members must meet the following criteria:

• Be a current member of the faculty (full- or part-time) at the School of Medicine, including at least five years at an accredited medical school;
• Demonstrate sustained and substantial contributions to education at the School of Medicine (including for medical students, graduate students, residents, fellows, and/or faculty); and
• Demonstrate a commitment to a continued, substantial contribution to educational efforts in the School of Medicine.

Academy Activities

All educational activities "count" toward active engagement in the teaching mission of the academy. The academy will promote member engagement in existing educational activities, including:

• Education retreats
• Education grand rounds 
• Scholarship in Teaching Awards 
• The Center for Advanced Medical Learning (CAML) faculty development series 

In addition, the academy will promote the development of a community of educators through new educational activities and forums:

• Visiting scholars/speakers bureau: The bureau is the pool of education experts within the School of Medicine who are available to help expand faculty development efforts through lectures/workshops across the city. Our experts present on a multitude of topics, from creating a positive learning environment to creating short teaching videos to promote learning. 
• Education journal club/newsletter: This is a periodic publication to increase awareness of current trends in medical education and local education activities.
• Interest groups: We facilitate groups of academy members to identify areas of shared interest, around which they can build small communities of engaged educators.
• Sponsored projects/task forces: Whereas interest groups allow academy members to pursue self-identified and shared passions, task forces are commissioned to investigate and/or address areas of greatest academic need as identified in collaboration with medical school leadership. Although topics may overlap with those of interest groups, task forces would have more defined objectives, timeline and presumably funding to accomplish their work.

Application

The initial application for membership in the Academy of Scholar Educators involves the following requirements:

1. CV
2. Teaching portfolio, including:
   1. Personal statement/philosophy of teaching
   2. Inventory of contributions to:
      1. Direct teaching (any setting)
      2. Mentoring/advising
      3. Curriculum/course development (includes teaching and assessment materials)
      4. Education administration and leadership
      5. Education scholarship (presentations, workshops, publications)
3. Letter of support from department chair/division chief
4. Two additional letters of support (at least one from a learner; the second letter may also be from the learner or from a colleague familiar with the applicant's role as an educator)

The deadline for the 2023 submission was Feb. 10, 2023. Please check back in December 2023 for the 2024 Academy of Scholar Educators call for applications. The annual deadline for submission is typically in the beginning of February.

Active Members 

Get to know the individuals who are actively engaged as members in the Academy of Scholar Educators at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. A list of members from the Leadership in Medical Education – Collaborative (LME-C) tracks is available on the LME-C page.