Medical Education Medical Education Research Collaboration:Research Collaboration:A Challenge, but not an ImpossibilityA Challenge, but not an Impossibility

William J. Cairney, PhDWilliam J. Cairney, PhD

Colorado Springs Osteopathic Colorado Springs Osteopathic FoundationFoundation

The Role of The Role of ResearchResearch in Life-Long in Life-Long LearningLearning

““To hear all these large words, you would think that To hear all these large words, you would think that the mind of a man of science must be constituted the mind of a man of science must be constituted

differently from that of his fellow men, but if you will differently from that of his fellow men, but if you will not be frightened by terms, you will discover that you not be frightened by terms, you will discover that you are quite wrong, and that these terrible apparatus are are quite wrong, and that these terrible apparatus are being used by yourselves every hour of your lives.” being used by yourselves every hour of your lives.”

T.H. HuxleyT.H. Huxley

What What IS IS “Research”??“Research”??

Systematic investigation of a subject, Systematic investigation of a subject, a problem, or a phenomenona problem, or a phenomenon

Adding new material to the body of Adding new material to the body of knowledge in one’s fieldknowledge in one’s field

Field-Specific ApplicationsField-Specific Applications

HumanitiesHumanitiesSocial SciencesSocial SciencesEngineering DisciplinesEngineering DisciplinesNatural Sciences (including Natural Sciences (including

biomedicine)biomedicine)

What kinds of studies are What kinds of studies are possible for me?possible for me?

Description of a phenomenon or Description of a phenomenon or problemproblem

Way of Way of dealing withdealing with a problem a problem (methods paper)(methods paper)

Retrospective analysisRetrospective analysisClinical trialsClinical trialsCase Studies (as contrasted with case Case Studies (as contrasted with case

reportsreports))Controlled experimentationControlled experimentation

Critical Fallout (2 points)Critical Fallout (2 points)

Significant change in the minds of Significant change in the minds of residentsresidentsGenuine “spirit of inquiry” – a critical Genuine “spirit of inquiry” – a critical

life-long skill (now an AOA required life-long skill (now an AOA required competency)competency)

An “I can do it” attitude (a An “I can do it” attitude (a challenge challenge but not an but not an impossibilityimpossibility))

Inevitable Inevitable paradigm shiftparadigm shift over time over time in the Osteopathic Communityin the Osteopathic Community

Research in the Osteopathic Research in the Osteopathic Community:Community:

Two Important ThrustsTwo Important ThrustsClinical – especially the application of Clinical – especially the application of

Osteopathic Principles and Practice Osteopathic Principles and Practice to clinical problemsto clinical problems

Educational – how to best impart Educational – how to best impart true true understanding and integrationunderstanding and integration of a of a critical body of knowledge and set of critical body of knowledge and set of skillsskills

Both need to Both need to operate togetheroperate together for for optimum effectivenessoptimum effectiveness

““Collaborate”Collaborate”

ko-ko-lablab-o-rayt, -o-rayt, v. v. to work in to work in partnership (i.e. to partnership (i.e. to operate operate

togethertogether))

Barriers to Effective Medical Barriers to Effective Medical Education ResearchEducation Research

Differing views on “What is Research?”Differing views on “What is Research?”Narrow definitionNarrow definitionField specific applicationsField specific applicationsNotion of the “esoteric face” (but…Notion of the “esoteric face” (but…

remember Huxley!)remember Huxley!) Institutional Priorities (How important Institutional Priorities (How important

is medical education research here…is medical education research here…really?)really?)

Lack of “Coordinating Structures”Lack of “Coordinating Structures”

““Coordinating Structures”Coordinating Structures”

Catalysts for synthesisCatalysts for synthesisVisible agenciesVisible agenciesSignificant projectsSignificant projects

Catalysts, Agencies, Projects:Catalysts, Agencies, Projects:The framework for collaborationThe framework for collaboration

Society of Osteopathic Medical Society of Osteopathic Medical Educators (SOME)Educators (SOME)

SOME Special Interest Groups (SIGs)SOME Special Interest Groups (SIGs)AACOM/CSOF Medical Education AACOM/CSOF Medical Education

Research InitiativeResearch Initiative

Why SOME?...Why SIGs?Why SOME?...Why SIGs?

StopStop thinking about research (especially in thinking about research (especially in medical education) solely in terms of high medical education) solely in terms of high dollar efforts…(although abundant dollars dollar efforts…(although abundant dollars are wonderful!)are wonderful!)

StartStart thinking in terms of thinking in terms of networks networks of of education and training programs, trainees, education and training programs, trainees, program faculties, and OME practitioners program faculties, and OME practitioners ((networks = collaboration, coordination, networks = collaboration, coordination, synergysynergy))

StartStart thinking of ways of joining forces thinking of ways of joining forces with minimal overhead with minimal overhead

Medical Education Research SIG:Medical Education Research SIG:One Example – Low Overhead!One Example – Low Overhead!

Establishment of easy-to-use Establishment of easy-to-use listserve (AACOM catalyst – Dr. Heun)listserve (AACOM catalyst – Dr. Heun)

Invitation to post projects and invite Invitation to post projects and invite participation (catalyst – CSOF PBRN participation (catalyst – CSOF PBRN open to med ed research projects)open to med ed research projects)

IRB to expedite medical education IRB to expedite medical education research projects (catalyst – CSOF)research projects (catalyst – CSOF)

Invitation to publish med ed research Invitation to publish med ed research in in CSOF Medical Monographs on-lineCSOF Medical Monographs on-line

Osteopathic Medical Osteopathic Medical Education Research Education Research

InstituteInstitute

AACOM/CSOF CollaborativeAACOM/CSOF Collaborative

A A new agency new agency dedicated to dedicated to medical education research medical education research

OOsteopathic steopathic MMedical edical EEducation ducation RResearch esearch

IInstitutenstituteOMERIOMERIMISSIONMISSION

To encourage and facilitate excellence To encourage and facilitate excellence in osteopathic medical education in osteopathic medical education

research and provide resources and research and provide resources and mentorship for new projectsmentorship for new projects

OMERI ObjectivesOMERI Objectives

To provide technical and To provide technical and methodological support for methodological support for investigators initiating research investigators initiating research projects in osteopathic medical projects in osteopathic medical educationeducation

To expedite (through the CSOF) IRB To expedite (through the CSOF) IRB review of medical education research review of medical education research projectsprojects

To provide assistance in writing for To provide assistance in writing for publicationpublication

OMERI Objectives (cont)OMERI Objectives (cont)

To publicize and coordinate medical To publicize and coordinate medical education research projects involving education research projects involving multiple colleges of osteopathic medicine multiple colleges of osteopathic medicine ((collaboration!!collaboration!!))

To design assessment strategies for new To design assessment strategies for new educational toolseducational tools

To offer the option of refereed on-line To offer the option of refereed on-line publication for completed studiespublication for completed studies

To conduct osteopathic medical education To conduct osteopathic medical education research, alone, or in combination with research, alone, or in combination with colleges of osteopathic medicine or colleges of osteopathic medicine or individual investigatorsindividual investigators

OMERI…why an independent OMERI…why an independent corporate structure?corporate structure?

Establishes and maintains a distinct, Establishes and maintains a distinct, focused missionfocused mission

Establishes an immediate, clear identityEstablishes an immediate, clear identity Allows for independent seeking of grant Allows for independent seeking of grant

funding; not competing in same grant funding; not competing in same grant categories as COMscategories as COMs

Allows for independent relationships with Allows for independent relationships with allall colleges of osteopathic medicine and colleges of osteopathic medicine and other interested agencies; research results other interested agencies; research results will provide tools for will provide tools for allall schools equally schools equally

What OMERI is What OMERI is notnot??

A new or competing clinical research A new or competing clinical research center (focus is medical center (focus is medical educationeducation research)research)

A “regulator” of independent efforts A “regulator” of independent efforts by individuals or COMS (OMERI by individuals or COMS (OMERI encourages, facilitates, fosters encourages, facilitates, fosters collaboration; does not seek to collaboration; does not seek to preclude independent research) preclude independent research)

Where is OMERI now?Where is OMERI now?

Mission establishedMission established Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws

writtenwritten Application for incorporation in progress as Application for incorporation in progress as

a non-profit, 501c3 educational organizationa non-profit, 501c3 educational organization Draft business plan writtenDraft business plan written Funding sources investigatedFunding sources investigated Investigating initial proposals for sponsored Investigating initial proposals for sponsored

projectsprojects

OMERI…bottom lineOMERI…bottom line

Establish a valuable service to the Establish a valuable service to the Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine; Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine; develop curricula, assessment and develop curricula, assessment and

evaluation systems, and other resources evaluation systems, and other resources of value to all; save the colleges of value to all; save the colleges significant funds and staff timesignificant funds and staff time

We’re excited…!!We’re excited…!!

Questions?Questions?

Comments?Comments?