A compendium of higher education opportunities in health professions education

The authors assembled a compendium of programs world-wide that are dedicated to teaching individuals how to direct, research, or improve the education of health professionals. To accomplish this task, in 1996 and 1997 they interviewed and corresponded with researchers in the health professions and with staffs of faculty development fellowship programs listed in the 1966 Fellowship Directory for Family Physicians, and consulted several postings on the DR-ED listserv. To be included in the compendium, the program had to be specifically focused on health professions education. Out of 51 possible programs, 17 were identified. The authors then sent a questionnaire to the staffs of these 17 programs, asking for program descriptions and information about curricula, students, graduates, costs, and financial aid. Detailed data were received from 15 programs from three continents. Eleven programs offered master's-level degrees and five offered PhD degrees. The majority had flexible study-time arrangements. Graduates of such courses have already assumed leadership position in health professions education and research around the world. The authors hope that their compendium of programs will help guide health professionals who seek to improve their skills in health professions education.