Medical Education Research, Innovation, Teaching, and Scholarship (MERITS) Program

The MERITS One-Year Fellowship in Medical Education will provide faculty and postgraduate fellows with the conceptual and practical skills required for successful future careers as medical education scholars and leaders. The goal of the Fellowship in Medical Education is to develop educational leaders and scholars through participation in a focused curriculum, research in medical education workshops, mentored projects, and active engagement with a rich network of colleagues and faculty in an environment of collaborative learning and support. The curriculum will focus on curriculum development and teaching skills, with each participant completing an individual mentored curricular project, as well as a project with small groups from their cohort.

 

The One-Year Fellowship is not a full-time funded fellowship (no salary or benefits provided).

Candidates for the one-year, full-time fellowship must be part of the University of Chicago or NorthShore affiliates as a faculty, fellow, or serving as the Chief Resident in a University of Chicago/NorthShore residency program.

 

Candidates must have Department Chair, Section Chief, or Program Director approval to attend the one-year seminar series (provided 2-3 times a month).

MERITS Seminar Series includes topics such as:

 

• Scholarship & Current Issues Facing Medical Education
• Curriculum and Evaluation
• Theory and Practice of Medical Education
• Medical Education Leadership

 

One-Year Fellowship in Medical Education for Faculty and GME Fellows Track:

Applications open February 6th and close March 21st, 2025

To apply: One-Year Fellowship Application

The One-Year Fellowship in Medical Education for Faculty & GME Fellows Track application consists of the following:

 

• REDCap Application
• Curriculum Vitae
• Personal Statement (1 page)
• Faculty Applicants:
  • Provide letter from Section Chief or Department Chair
• Residency/Fellowship Program Applicants:
  • Provide letter from Program Director

 

For additional inquiries please contact Kayla Scales.

• Tuition for the program (for the Department and/or Section) is $1500, which will also be supplemented by matching funds from the Pritzker School of Medicine.
• Attendance at MERITS classes – Wednesdays 10a-12p, roughly twice/month from late September to May
• Completion of a mentored Medical Education Scholarly Project. This will focus on curriculum development or curriculum evaluation.
• Optional attendance at AAMC Meeting in November 2025: we highly recommend that participants attend the annual AAMC Learn Serve Lead Meeting. This event provides valuable exposure to a diverse array of medical education ideas, priorities, and innovations, as well as an opportunity to convene with their cohort. We encourage participants to collaborate with their chairs to address the costs of this meeting.

 

Certificate of Completion will be provided to fellows at the culmination of the program after meeting all program requirements.

The GME Medical Education Scholars Track goes a step further in focusing and developing educational leaders in the early stages of training, during physicians' Residency Programs. During postgraduate education, residents face many time limitations that preclude them from seeking advanced training in medical education. This program offers medical education training to junior residents through virtual and in-person courses and mentoring. The Two-Year GME Medical Education Scholars Track is directed by James Ahn, MD, MHPE and Shannon Martin, MD, MS.

 

There is no fee associated with participating in the GME Medical Education Scholars Track.

The Two-Year GME Medical Education Scholars Track is open to residents in training programs at the University of Chicago campus.

 

Applications will be considered from rising PGY2 residents or residents entering their research years.

Virtual Training:

Residents will have the opportunity to participate in virtual Medical Education Journal Club discussions.

Residents will also participate in six annual webinars in the following areas during the course of two years of training:

• Theory and Practice of Medical Education
• Curriculum and Evaluation
• Advanced Teaching Skills

 

Live Program:

Residents in the GME Scholars Program meet quarterly during the lunch hour to discuss topics in medical education.

Residents will participate in at least five in-person RIME workshops offered monthly between October and June from 12:15pm-1pm.

In addition, residents will also be able to participate in the Residents Are Teachers electives.

 

Faculty Mentored Experiences:

Residents will conduct a mentored project and participate in quarterly workshops within their cohort.

Residents will also have the opportunity to have their teaching skills directly observed and critiqued by expert faculty.

To apply: Two-Year GME Medical Education Scholars Track Application

Applications open February 6th and close March 21st, 2025

The Two-Year GME Medical Education Scholars Track application consists of the following:
 
•    Application form

•    Curriculum Vitae

•    Letter of recommendation from your program director indicating their support for your attendance in the program and your program director's financial support to attend at least one medical education conference and to develop at least one poster during the two-year term.

•    Personal statement (1 page)

For additional inquiries please contact Kayla Scales.