2025 SOM Faculty Development Series
Published on Wednesday, December 11, 2024
The School of Medicine and the Department of Advanced Medical Education have collaborated again this year to develop the 2025 SOM Annual Faculty Development Series. This series provides one-hour sessions throughout the year on topics that aim to enhance teaching and learning and the academic environment. The virtual sessions are held at noon and highlight the expertise and research of SOM faculty as well as faculty from other institutions.
Tackling Tough Topics that Students Want to Discuss
Thursday, February 13 | 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. | Presented by Dr. Karley Pippitt
Topics that require one to grapple with issues of ethics, faith, or politics can be tough, and in some settings, controversial. Such topics can present a challenge; yet these are the topics that students want and need to discuss. In-class discussions facilitated by faculty provide opportunities for thoughtful engagement and a safe environment for students to ask tough questions and address myths and misconceptions. This session provides strategies for engaging controversial, yet timely topics.
The Discovery Curriculum: A Path to Self-directed Learning
Wednesday, April 2 | 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Presented by Dr. Sarah Sterling
Lifelong learning is critical to a physician’s practice, and it begins with the development of self-directed learning. The Discovery Curriculum at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine is designed to systematically support medical students’ development of self-directed learning. The curriculum culminates with Discovery Day. This session outlines the expectations for self-directed learning in undergraduate medical education while demonstrating how it is accomplished here.
Peer Teaching in Medical Education
Wednesday, May 7 | 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Presented by Dr. Nathan Tullos
Peer teaching in medical education can be implemented in many ways. This session outlines multiple approaches to implementing peer teaching and explores how learning from one’s peers can be effective for the learner and the teacher. Outcomes from research implemented with medical students at the University of Mississippi Medical Center are highlighted in this session.
Defining, Addressing, and Tracking Student Mistreatment: A System of Accountability and A Safe Learning Environment
Wednesday, June 4 | 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Presented by Dr. Michael McMullan
The School of Medicine is committed to ensuring a safe learning environment. Educating students, faculty, residents, fellows, and staff about what counts as student mistreatment, the School’s mistreatment policy and procedures for reporting it. Addressing student mistreatment helps to create a safe environment. Monitoring student mistreatment through a system of tracking facilitates accountability and transparency that helps demonstrate zero tolerance for retaliation of any kind for reporting of mistreatment.
Medical Students’ Application of Foundational Science
Wednesday, June 11 | 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Presented by Dr. Jarrett Morgan
Patient-oriented problem solving (POPS) is a format of problem-based learning being utilized in the teaching of medical students at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. A set of new cases with pre- and post-test questions have been developed to strengthen students’ understanding of foundational science to clinical cases. This session outlines the structure of POPS, explores the benefits for student understanding and engagement, and demonstrates how faculty can contribute to undergraduate medical education at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
The Dos and Don’ts of Question Writing
Wednesday, June 18 | 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Presented by Dr. David Norris
Assessment is a critical part of medical education helping to determine students’ understanding of the content and proficiency with the skills deemed appropriate for the learning experience. Designing assessment items or test questions to gauge this understanding can be difficult. This session explains the dos and don’ts for writing high-quality multiple-choice questions, describes multiple-choice item formats, and examines issues of psychometric performance.
Rural Medicine Education in Mississippi: Its Scope and Aims
Wednesday, June 25 | 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Presented by Dr. Loretta Jackson-Williams
The University of Mississippi School of Medicine’s mission is to train skilled and compassionate physicians to provide high-quality and equitable health care particularly for the state’s residents. About 55% of Mississippi’s population lives in a rural area with 80 of its 82 counties designated as medically underserved areas and 77 of its 82 counties classified as health professional shortage areas. IMPACT the RACE is a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant funded program designed to increase primary care physicians throughout rural communities in Mississippi. This presentation highlights the needs and how IMPACT the RACE is addressing them.
The Value of Narrative Feedback in Evaluations
Wednesday, July 2 | 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Presented by Dr. Lyssa Weatherly
Narrative descriptions of a learner’s performance are an important component of assessment. They can provide valuable insights to the learner about their performance and how to improve it as formative feedback. As a summative assessment, narrative feedback provides a snapshot for transitioning into the next phase of learning such residency programs. Ultimately, the feedback should be clear, concise, and actionable in order for its usefulness to be maximized.
Educational Program Planning & Writing Objectives
Wednesday, July 9 | 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Presented by Dr. Austin Harrison
In the Spring of 2022, the School of Medicine (SOM) adopted new educational program objectives (EPOs). These objectives allow for the assessment of medical students’ progress in developing the competencies that the profession and the public expect of a physician. The SOM’s six EPOs address medical knowledge, patient care, systems-based practice, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal communication skills, and professionalism. The EPOs inform curriculum development at the course and session levels. This session provides an overview of how to develop course and session objectives.
Adult Learning in Theories and Motivation in Learning
Wednesday, July 23 | 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Presented by Dr. Timothy Dasinger
Understanding how adults learn and what motivates them are critical components in designing instruction that is engaging and leads to the development of knowledge. This session outlines key adult learning theories and frameworks of motivation. Learn practical strategies for how to enhance your teaching for adult learners.
Medical Marijuana: Promises and Pitfalls
Wednesday, July 30 | 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Presented by Dr. Brad Ingram
Medical marijuana has been legal in the United States for almost two decades. In 2022, it was legalized in the state of Mississippi. This presentation highlights promising research on its use and cautions us on the pitfalls.
The Patient Cohort Explorer: Data at Your Fingertips
Wednesday, September 3 | 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Presented by Dr. Norma Ojeda
The Patient Cohort Explorer contains data from the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Research Data Warehouse. The data are updated quarterly using date shifted, de-identified data from Epic. The user may obtain reports from querying de-identified data. This presentation guides the participant in the exploration of data in the Patient Cohort Explorer and highlights ways one can use it to gain insights, develop research, and review student performance.
The Teaching Kitchen: Augmenting Understanding of Disease Management and Prevention
Wednesday, October 15 | 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Presented by Dr. Caroline Compretta
Culinary medicine, a developing field, is being integrated into more undergraduate medical education programs. The University of Mississippi School of Medicine is planning for a teaching kitchen that will facilitate the inclusion of nutrition principles into the curriculum and support medical students understanding of and capacity to support patients with diet and lifestyle modifications to improve their health. This session highlights the School of Medicine’s approach to nutrition and how it will expand with the launch of its teaching kitchen.