A Longitudinal Regional Educational Model for Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellows Emphasizing Small Group- and...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
• Fellowship Training

Background:

• Recent trends necessitate improved delivery of didactic and simulation training for PCCM fellows.
• Variability in clinical training, knowledge, and procedural skills among incoming fellows requires a standardized approach.
• Existing training programs face challenges in meeting evolving demands.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement a regional PCCM curriculum addressing training variability.
• To foster collaboration and continuous improvement among PCCM educators.
• To share lessons learned in developing and delivering a regional fellowship curriculum.

Main Methods:

• A collaborative regional curriculum was developed for PCCM fellows in the Baltimore/Washington, DC area.
• The curriculum is delivered biannually (summer and winter) and has been refined since 2008.
• Involves 13 training programs and incorporates fellow feedback for iterative enhancement.

Main Results:

• The curriculum has successfully adapted to changing training demands and fellow variability.
• Established a consortium of educators, promoting idea sharing and career development.
• Demonstrated a model for continuous curriculum improvement through feedback.

Conclusions:

• A regional, collaborative approach effectively enhances PCCM fellowship education.
• Continuous feedback mechanisms are crucial for curriculum development and relevance.
• The initiative has fostered a supportive community of medical educators.