The APPD Longitudinal Educational Assessment Research Network's First Decade

Area of Science:

• Medical Education Research
• Pediatric Residency Training
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• Established in 2009, the Association of Pediatric Program Directors (APPD) Longitudinal Educational Assessment Research Network (LEARN) is a national network.
• Its formation was influenced by historical shifts in medical education.
• APPD LEARN now encompasses 74% of US Pediatric residency programs and includes subspecialty fellowship programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the progress of APPD LEARN after 10 years of operation.
• To assess the network's contribution to educational research advancing pediatrician training.
• To identify areas for future development and improvement.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive review of the network's context, input, processes, and products.
• Analysis of approved studies, publications, presentations, and archived data sets.
• Assessment of member program representatives' perceptions of the network's success and value.

Main Results:

• APPD LEARN has facilitated 19 member-initiated and 14 interorganizational studies, yielding 23 publications and 7 data sets.
• Publications emphasize the mechanisms and timing of interventions, demonstrating high reporting rigor and objective outcomes.
• Members highly value research participation, expertise access, and authorship opportunities.

Conclusions:

• APPD LEARN has demonstrably contributed to high-rigor research in pediatric education.
• The network has positively impacted the training of future pediatricians.
• Key areas for enhancement include formalizing research prioritization, improving infrastructure for patient data research, and expanding outreach.