One component of UMMS’s mission is to provide affordable, high-quality medical education to state residents and to increase the number of PCPs practicing in underserved areas of the state. This study responds to our growing need to recruit future PCPs by investigating differences in relationships with advisors/mentors between those students who pursue a primary care residency and those who do not. Presented at the AAMC (Association of American Colleges) Annual Meeting, RIME (Research in Medical Education) Program, November 2009.

Previous research findings suggest “independent learning” appeared to be the single most useful method for helping students facilitate learning in their preclinical years. This study extends upon our prior work exploring students’ definition of independent learning. Presented at the AAMC (Association of American Colleges) Annual Meeting, RIME (Research in Medical Education) Program, November 2009.

In 2003 it was forecasted that medical students’preclinical learning would mostly consist of large portions of educational training and instruction provided on the internet and other technology tools, while the traditional lecture format would become more infrequent. Five years later many medical schools have adapted to this new technological-enhanced learning environment. No one can argue that today’s millennial generation of medical students is more familiar with technology than their predecessors. However, does this technology savvy generation report that these new tools are indeed superior when compared to the traditional tools of facilitating learning and understanding in the preclinical years? Additionally, is there a difference in usefulness of learning techniques for students in year one as compared to year two of medical school? This study examines the learning tools in basic science courses to determine how the millennial generation of students report they are learning best. Tools from our blended learning curriculum were investigated within and across preclinical years one and two. Presented at the AAMC (Association of American Colleges) Annual Meeting, RIME (Research in Medical Education) Program, November 2008.

Purpose: To gather and analyze data at two points in time on perceptions of institutional values connected to a wide range of diversity issues. This study gauges student, faculty, and staff views on institutional support of diversity with results guiding future inclusion and training efforts within the organization. Presented at the AAMC (Association of American Colleges) Annual Meeting, RIME (Research in Medical Education) Program, November 2008.

Currently, the need for the recruitment and retention of qualified Under-Represented Minority (URM) students remains a pressing concern for U.S. medical schools. In response to this need, we analyzed admissions data at our medical school to determine which factors may positively or negatively influence the decision of an URM applicant to matriculate at our school, when compared to their White/Asian counterparts. Presented at the AAMC (Association of American Colleges) Annual Meeting, RIME (Research in Medical Education) Program, November 2007.

A 2002 report from the AAMC Project Implementation Committee indicated, “The pool from which to recruit women academic leaders remains shallow” (Bickel, et al., 2002). Since hen, much attention has been focused on improving conditions for women at the faculty level. Yet, few studies address the possibility that the medical school experience could impact the initial depth in this recruitment pool. Is there a trend in medical school that may be negatively impacting women’s success in pursuing a career in academia? Presented at the AAMC (Association of American Colleges) Annual Meeting, RIME (Research in Medical Education) Program, November 2006.

Does the perceived value of a third year End of Life (EOL) Interclerkship change after medical students complete their first year of residency? Several research studies indicate students’ perceptions about specific learning experiences change after graduating from medical school. The value that medical students put on their education of end of life issues increases after they leave medical school. This finding highlights the importance of teaching end of life issues to undergraduate medical students. Presented at the AAMC (Association of American Colleges) Annual Meeting, RIME (Research in Medical Education) Program, November 2006.

With support from the AAMC/John A. Hartford Foundation the University of Massachusetts Medical School developed a Geriatrics curriculum and faculty development that would be integrated across all four years. Beginning in Fall 2001, these were implemented over the next two academic years in both preclinical and clinical areas and are highlighted on the timeline above. Would implementation of this new Geriatrics curriculum and faculty development impact students’ ratings of instruction time in Geriatrics? Presented at the AAMC (Association of American Colleges) Annual Meeting, RIME (Research in Medical Education) Program, November 2005.

This study examines the quality of the transition into employment roles among a socioeconomically diverse cohort of 1,143 high school seniors who were interviewed as seniors in 1998 and 2 years later. Focusing on both subjective and objective dimensions of work adaptation, analyses examine differences in these outcomes associated with taking a high school career-major versus a more traditional academic program. This type of major is intended to assist in the career development and economic adaptation of more disadvantaged young adults and follows from an ecological model emphasizing the importance of connections between educational and employment institutions in the socialization of young people. Results indicate small but significant effects of having the career-major for the perceptual variables. Group differences were not found for the variables assessing more objective qualities of their jobs. The discrepancy between subjective and objective outcomes may suggest a short-term psychological optimism in the absence of an objective situation that would justify this view. Discussion centers on the need for stronger institutional support for school-work connections.