Please note that the IAMSE Cafes have now moved to the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EDT.

Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 12:00 PM EDT – Gamification in Medical Education

Gamification involves incorporating game elements—such as challenges, competition, collaboration, storytelling, rewards, and immediate feedback—into educational experiences. When used thoughtfully, these approaches can transform traditional teaching sessions into active, memorable, and learner-centered experiences.

During this IAMSE Café, our guests will share examples of how they have incorporated gamification and game-based learning into medical and anatomical sciences education. The discussion will explore:

• Educational games, escape rooms, and interactive challenges
• Strategies for improving learner engagement and motivation
• The role of competition, teamwork, feedback, and rewards
• Technology-supported and low-resource gamification approaches
• Practical considerations when designing gamified activities
• Potential challenges, limitations, and lessons learned

Participants will leave with practical ideas that can be adapted for classroom teaching, laboratory sessions, small-group learning, assessment review, and faculty development.

To register for the next IAMSE Cafe, click here. Once you have registered, you will receive a confirmation email from our system as well as from Zoom. You are able to add the session to your calendar through the Zoom confirmation email.

Make sure to join us on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month for more IAMSE Cafe Sessions! Looking for previous sessions? Visit www.IAMSECafe.org for a complete archive of the series. 
 
We look forward to seeing you next week!

Who should be serving?
Members who:

• Have an interest in marketing and communication.
• Are enthusiastic about social media engagement.
• Have strong written communication skills.
• Are able to respond to emails within 24 hours.

Core Responsibilities

• Member Communications — Review and oversee all membership communications, including newsletters, announcements, and email campaigns, ensuring messaging is clear, timely, and reflects the association's strategic priorities.
• Social Media — Develop and maintain a social media strategy that grows engagement, expands IAMSE's reach, and upholds the association's professional standards across all platforms.
• Website — Conduct regular reviews of the IAMSE website to ensure content is accurate, current, and serves the needs of members, prospective members, and the broader health sciences education community.

Required Qualifications

• Active IAMSE membership in good standing.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior marketing, social media or editorial experience

Details

• Committee Composition: IAMSE seeks a committee that reflects our global membership -- different regions, institution types, and career stages. We welcome applications from individuals who bring national and international experience. 
• Apply: Click here to apply. You will need:
  - CV
  - Statement of interest: Not more than 500 words on why you wish to serve, and relevant experiences.

We look forward to your participation and thank you for your continued support of IAMSE. If you have any questions about this process, please email support@iamse.org.

The deadline to submit your application is July 15, 2026.

Please note that the IAMSE Cafes have now moved to the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET. The Cafes were at 10:00 AM ET on the first and third Tuesday of the month before this change.

Dr. Evan Goldman, PhD, MEd,
Penn State College of Medicine

Dr. Ryan Walsh, M.D.,
Robert Larner M.D. College of Medicine
at the University of Vermont

Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at 12:00 PM EDT –Effective Design of Prework for Active Learning

In this IAMSE café, participants will learn how leaders in active learning are utilizing technology to support student engagement in the learning process. While this session will explore interactive strategies as it relates to the design of pre-work materials for active learning sessions, this session is applicable to anyone who is interested in creating more engaging learning tools for their students. Please join us for this session as we learn more about the innovative ways in which our presenters are making the learning process interactive and more enjoyable.

To join the meeting please click here. The meeting password is IAMSECafe or, if you are calling in from a phone, the numeric password is 778130.

Make sure to join us on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month for more IAMSE Cafe Sessions! Looking for previous sessions? Visit www.IAMSECafe.org for a complete archive of the series. 
 
We look forward to seeing you this week!

Associate Editors play an important role in the editorial process by managing manuscript reviews, evaluating reviewer feedback, and making editorial recommendations in collaboration with the editorial leadership team.

Responsibilities include:

• Managing approximately 2-4 manuscripts per month
• Participating in monthly Editorial Board Zoom meetings (approximately 1 hour; attendance encouraged when possible)
• Supporting the mission and continued growth of Medical Science Educator

The expected commitment is approximately 10 hours per month. Appointments are for a 3-year renewable term.

Required Qualifications:

• Current membership in IAMSE
• Experience serving as an author and reviewer for an educational journal
• Strong interest in educational scholarship and peer review

Special Considerations:

• Previous experience serving as an Associate Editor or in another editorial leadership role for a journal
• Experience in a variety of educational settings, including, but not limited to, pre-clerkship, clerkship, post-graduate, or other health professions education
• International and interdisciplinary perspectives within the health professions education community

Associate Editors may also have opportunities to participate in additional initiatives, including reviewer development workshops, editorial projects, and other scholarly or professional activities associated with the journal.

Application Materials:

• A current CV
• A letter of interest describing relevant experience, editorial and reviewer background, and interest in the position
• A letter of support from supervisor or institutional leader 

To apply to be an MSE Associate Editor, click here.

Please contact editor@iamse.org if you have any questions regarding the application.

The deadline to apply is August 1, 2026.

Please click here to complete the survey. 

For each completed Artificial Intelligence Needs Assessment Survey, a $2 donation will be made to the IAMSE Student Scholarship fund to support their participation in IAMSE activities. 

This 3-minute survey is designed to advance knowledge about the use and impact of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in health professions education. AI is a broad concept that includes machine learning and deep learning applications; predictive analytics for identifying trends and relationships in large datasets; digital chatbots; image generation; and voice and text manipulation using large language models to create new information and knowledge. This includes generative AI (GAI) tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft Copilot, Gemini, Sora, Perplexity, DALL-E, and many others. 

Your responses to this survey will be anonymous and only reported in aggregated form. The survey results will be shared with all interested individuals, including the IAMSE Board of Directors, IAMSE Committees, the AI CoG itself, Medical Science Educator in its meeting reports, and the International Advisory Committee for Artificial Intelligence (IACAI) for deliberations.

Thank You,
Steve Garwood,
IAMSE AI Community of Growth Coordinator

Please note that the IAMSE Cafes have now moved to the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET. The Cafes were at 10:00 AM ET on the first and third Tuesday of the month before this change.

Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at 12:00 PM EST – Precision Medical Education

Dr. Jesse Burk-Rafel, MD, MRes,
NYU Langone

Dr. Janae Heath, MD, MSCE,
University of Pennsylvania

This IAMSE Café will explore the emerging field of Precision Medical Education (PME), an approach that uses data to drive personalized learning experiences for students and trainees. Rather than a one-size fits all approach, PME leverages digital data and technology to provide targeted feedback to the learner, helping them better understand their knowledge gaps and improve on these. By participating in this session, attendees will learn about what leaders in this developing field are doing to engage learners at a personal level and will additionally gain insight into how they can incorporate similar approaches at their institutions.

To join the meeting please click here. The meeting password is IAMSECafe or, if you are calling in from a phone, the numeric password is 778130.

Make sure to join us on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month for more IAMSE Cafe Sessions! Looking for previous sessions? Visit www.IAMSECafe.org for a complete archive of the series. 
 
We look forward to seeing you this week!

Who should be serving?
Members who:

• Have an interest in marketing and communication.
• Are enthusiastic about social media engagement.
• Have strong written communication skills.
• Are able to respond to emails within 24 hours.

Core Responsibilities

• Member Communications — Review and oversee all membership communications, including newsletters, announcements, and email campaigns, ensuring messaging is clear, timely, and reflects the association's strategic priorities.
• Social Media — Develop and maintain a social media strategy that grows engagement, expands IAMSE's reach, and upholds the association's professional standards across all platforms.
• Website — Conduct regular reviews of the IAMSE website to ensure content is accurate, current, and serves the needs of members, prospective members, and the broader health sciences education community.

Required Qualifications

• Active IAMSE membership in good standing.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior marketing, social media or editorial experience

Details

• Committee Composition: IAMSE seeks a committee that reflects our global membership -- different regions, institution types, and career stages. We welcome applications from individuals who bring national and international experience. 
• Apply: Click here to apply. You will need:
  - CV
  - Statement of interest: Not more than 500 words on why you wish to serve, and relevant experiences.

We look forward to your participation and thank you for your continued support of IAMSE. If you have any questions about this process, please email support@iamse.org.

The deadline to submit your application is July 15, 2026.

Alice Fornari, EdD, RDN,
FAMEE, HEC-C, ACC/ICF,
Donald and Barbara Zucker SOM
at Hofstra/Northwell

Kathryn Huggett, PhD
Larner College of Medicine at The University of Vermont

This session will clarify the terminology of coaching, describe different approaches to coach preparation, and discuss the different audiences for coaching.

To join the meeting please click here. The meeting password is IAMSECafe or, if you are calling in from a phone, the numeric password is 778130.

Make sure to join us on the first and third Tuesday of each month for more IAMSE Cafe Sessions! Looking for previous sessions? Visit www.IAMSECafe.org for a complete archive of the series. 

As a final reminder, the Student Professional Development Committee is excited to welcome students and faculty attending the IAMSE 2026 Annual Conference to the Buddy Program. The Buddy Program connects experienced IAMSE faculty who have attended past conferences with student attendees, offering guidance to help them make the most of their annual conference experience. This is a great opportunity to connect with a new colleague, make a new friend, add to your CV, and pick up some IAMSE swag!

There are two roles in the Buddy Program:

• Junior Buddy: A student attendee who is seeking to make new connections and receive guidance and support that will help them make the most of their annual conference experience. 
• Senior Buddy: A terminal degree recipient who has previously attended an in-person IAMSE Conference and can answer questions, share tips, and introduce one or more Junior Buddies to other members of IAMSE.

To join the Buddy Program, please click here to register for the IAMSE 2026 Conference and be sure to select "yes" when asked if you would like to participate in the Buddy Program. Already registered and didn't sign up? Click here to log in and modify your registration. Already registered for the program? Thank you! You will be paired with your Buddy by the end of May 2026.

The deadline to register for the Buddy Program is April 15, 2026. 

As a reminder, the work of IAMSE committees helps move the organization forward and achieve the strategic goals set by the Board of Directors. The contribution of our members to these committees is important. Committee members serve a 3-year term with the potential to extend their term by one year in some circumstances. To volunteer to serve on a committee, IAMSE members of at least one year should complete the volunteer form here.

At the moment, we are seeking a broad representation of professional educators, basic scientists, clinical scientists, and instructional technologists from around the world who are interested in volunteering for IAMSE committees. We welcome interest in the following committees, with the understanding that volunteer opportunities may not be available for every committee this cycle:

• Ambassador Committee
• Cafe Committee
• Educational Scholarship Committee
• Equity and Advocacy Committee (EAC)
• Membership Committee
• Onboarding Committee
• Professional Development Committee
• Publications Committee
• Student Professional Development Committee (SPDC)
• Web Audio Seminar (WAS) Committee

For more information and descriptions of each of these committees, click here.

In general, we expect committee members must have availability for one-hour monthly video meetings and be accessible by email. If you would like to be considered for a position on any of these committees, please fill out this form by 11:59 PM EDT Wednesday, April 1, 2026. If you are attending the upcoming IAMSE Annual Conference in Augusta, Georgia, USA, and would like to learn more about these committees before volunteering, you will have the opportunity to do so during our roundtable discussions, the annual business meeting, and other networking opportunities. Please know that IAMSE routinely recalibrates the size of its committees to best meet the evolving needs of the organization, so some committees may accept differing numbers of volunteers.

We hope that you will consider becoming involved in this important and collegial work.

There are two roles in the Buddy Program:

• Junior Buddy: A student attendee who is seeking to make new connections and receive guidance and support that will help them make the most of their annual conference experience. 
• Senior Buddy: A terminal degree recipient who has previously attended an in-person IAMSE Conference and can answer questions, share tips, and introduce one or more Junior Buddies to other members of IAMSE.

To join the Buddy Program, please click here to register for the IAMSE 2026 Conference and be sure to select "yes" when asked if you would like to participate in the Buddy Program. Already registered and didn't sign up? Click here to log in and modify your registration. Already registered for the program? Thank you! You will be paired with your Buddy by the end of May 2026.

The deadline to register for the Buddy Program is April 15, 2026. 

At the moment, we are seeking a broad representation of professional educators, basic scientists, clinical scientists, and instructional technologists from around the world who are interested in volunteering for IAMSE committees. We welcome interest in the following committees, with the understanding that volunteer opportunities may not be available for every committee this cycle:

• Ambassador Committee
• Cafe Committee
• Educational Scholarship Committee
• Equity and Advocacy Committee (EAC)
• Membership Committee
• Onboarding Committee
• Professional Development Committee
• Publications Committee
• Student Professional Development Committee (SPDC)
• Web Audio Seminar (WAS) Committee

For more information and descriptions of each of these committees, click here.

In general, we expect committee members must have availability for one-hour monthly video meetings and be accessible by email. If you would like to be considered for a position on any of these committees, please fill out this form by 11:59 PM EDT Wednesday, April 1, 2026. If you are attending the upcoming IAMSE Annual Conference in Augusta, Georgia, USA, and would like to learn more about these committees before volunteering, you will have the opportunity to do so during our roundtable discussions, the annual business meeting, and other networking opportunities. Please know that IAMSE routinely recalibrates the size of its committees to best meet the evolving needs of the organization, so some committees may accept differing numbers of volunteers.

We hope that you will consider becoming involved in this important and collegial work.

Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 10:00 AM EDT – Integration of Clinical Labs in the Curriculum and AI Support

Snehal Mehta, MD, CHSE
Associate Professor of Clinical Foundations, Emergency Medicine,
Ross University School of Medicine

During the café session we can discuss the integration of core clinical laboratory studies and imaging into the foundational curriculum, including an analysis of the associated advantages and potential limitations. Additionally, we can explore the role of artificial intelligence in facilitating and enhancing this integration.

To join the meeting please click here. The meeting password is IAMSECafe or, if you are calling in from a phone, the numeric password is 778130.

Make sure to join us on the first and third Tuesday of each month for more IAMSE Cafe Sessions! Looking for previous sessions? Visit www.IAMSECafe.org for a complete archive of the series. 
 
We look forward to seeing you this week!

The election is now open and will close at 11:59PM EDT Sunday, March 15, 2026. Please cast your vote for individuals to fill the open Director positions. Three (3) candidates will be voted into the Board.

Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 10:00 AM EST –IAMSE 2026 Conference Preview

Will Brooks, PhD,
IAMSE 2026 Program Chair,
Professor, Department of Medical Education,
University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Will Brooks will lead this week's IAMSE Cafe to discuss everything you need to know about the upcoming IAMSE 2026 Conference, set for June 6-9, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia, USA!

To join the meeting please click here. The meeting password is IAMSECafe or, if you are calling in from a phone, the numeric password is 778130.

Make sure to join us on the first and third Tuesday of each month for more IAMSE Cafe sessions! Looking for previous sessions? Visit www.IAMSECafe.org for a complete archive of the series.

We look forward to seeing you this week!

Rajuno Ettarh, MD, PhD, FRSM, FAS

We look forward to working with Dr. Ettarh as part of the Board of Directors. Congratulations!

Thank you,

Carol Nichols

President, IAMSE

Click here to View the Slate.

On March 2, 2026, an electronic ballot will be activated. At that time, IAMSE members in good standing will be invited to select three (3) of the candidates for the position of Director.

Thank You,
Julie Hewett, CMP, CAE
IAMSE Association Manager

The Student Professional Development Committee is excited to welcome students and faculty attending the IAMSE 2026 Annual Conference to the Buddy Program. The Buddy Program connects experienced IAMSE faculty who have attended past conferences with student attendees, offering guidance to help them make the most of their annual conference experience. This is a great opportunity to connect with a new colleague, make a new friend, add to your CV, and pick up some IAMSE swag!

There are two roles in the Buddy Program:

• Junior Buddy: A student attendee who is seeking to make new connections and receive guidance and support that will help them make the most of their annual conference experience. 
• Senior Buddy: A terminal degree recipient who has previously attended an in-person IAMSE Conference and can answer questions, share tips, and introduce one or more Junior Buddies to other members of IAMSE.

To join the Buddy Program, please click here to register for the IAMSE 2026 Conference and be sure to select "yes" when asked if you would like to participate in the Buddy Program. Already registered and didn't sign up? Click here to log in and modify your registration. Already registered for the program? Thank you! You will be paired with your Buddy by the end of May 2026.

The deadline to register for the Buddy Program is April 15, 2026. 

Thank You,
Sara Allison
Chair, IAMSE Student Professional Development Committee

Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 10:00 AM EST –Incorporating Humanities in Medical Education

Anna Ricci, PhD,
Assistant Professor,
Department of Neurological Sciences,
Robert Larner, M.D., College of Medicine
at the University of Vermont

Rebecca Volpe, PhD, HEC-C,
Associate Professor of Humanities,
Penn State College of Medicine

This new EAC-proposed award is for faculty and/or administrators who have demonstrated exemplary advocacy, dedication and evidence of impact related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice efforts in health professions education and workforce development. 

This award will recognize individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to breaking down barriers for underrepresented persons in health professions education. We welcome a broad interpretation of this statement, as we recognize the complexity of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice issues. Nominees will be evaluated on the following criteria:

1. Tangible results of their actions
2. Degree of impact
3. Novelty of the approach
4. Pioneering initiatives in their institutions, programs, curriculum, or classroom

There will be one (1) individual awarded each year. Eligibility for this award is listed below:

To be considered for the IAMSE Advocacy and Outreach Award, the following criteria must be met:

1. Applicant needs to be an IAMSE member in good standing.
2. Applicant needs to be a faculty member or administrator in the realm of healthcare education.
3. Applicant did make impactful contributions to diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or justice (or other related work).

Any eligible IAMSE member may submit an application for themselves (self-nomination) or any eligible candidate. To submit your nomination for the IAMSE Advocacy and Outreach Award, click here.

If you have any questions about your eligibility, please reach out to Jennifer Hotzman, EAC Chair, at jennifer.hotzman@lmunet.edu.

The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, February 6, 2026.

Francis O'Donnell, CBSE

Nicholas Cowling, CBSE

Please join us for the upcoming IAMSE cafe to learn more about the NBME CBSE and CBSSA exams. Dr. Francis O’Donnell, Senior Psychometrician and Nicholas Cowling, Product Manager for CBSE, will share updates about both exams, what the scores tell us about preparation for Step 1, and examples of how to use the exams as part of a medical education program. You will have time to ask your questions following a brief presentation. As time allows, participants can share how they use these exams at their individual institutions.

To join the meeting please click here. The meeting password is IAMSECafe or, if you are calling in from a phone, the numeric password is 778130.
 
Make sure to join us on the first and third Tuesday of each month for more IAMSE Cafe Sessions! Looking for previous sessions? Visit www.IAMSECafe.org for a complete archive of the series. 
 
We look forward to seeing you next week!

Another year has gone by, and I now find myself at the conclusion of my presidency at IAMSE. These two years have passed in a heartbeat, and I look back with great pleasure and a strong sense of fulfilment on the many initiatives we have worked on together. It has truly been a great pleasure and an honor to serve as President of this wonderful organization, alongside the even more wonderful people who comprise it.

In 2025, the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors continued their work to enhance the organization's policies and procedures. Despite the current challenging times, we were very pleased with the strong attendance at our annual conference in Calgary, Canada, followed by a highly successful Virtual Forum in the fall. Our international journal, Medical Science Educator, is rapidly becoming one of the world's leading journals in health professions education. Through these and other international efforts, IAMSE continues to gain recognition and respect as a leading organization of educators on a global scale. The HEAL initiative (Health Education Association Leaders) further expanded to include 35 organizations worldwide, and we now have a growing number of capable IAMSE Ambassadors in countries where IAMSE can truly make a difference for local health sciences educators. Toward the end of the year, the Board developed a new Strategic Charter for 2026-2030 to guide the organization successfully into the future.

In closing, I would like to thank all of our members who dedicate their time to IAMSE as volunteers—whether serving on committees, contributing to our programs, participating in our leadership, or engaging in our events. I would especially like to thank Dr. Bonny Dickinson and Dr. Sol Roberts-Lieb for their valuable contributions and excellent collaboration on the Executive Committee, as they conclude their terms. I also wish to thank our Association Manager, Julie Hewett, and her team at JulNet for the outstanding support they provide to IAMSE and for the tremendous amount of work they accomplish behind the scenes.

It is now time to hand over the presidential gavel to Dr. Carol Nichols. She has served as President-Elect alongside me for the past two years, and I have truly enjoyed working with her. I am confident that I leave the organization in her very capable hands, together with our new President-Elect, Dr. Kelly Quesnelle, and our new Executive Committee members, Dr. Kim Dahlman and Dr. Alana Newell. I see a wonderful future ahead for IAMSE, with our programs and publications growing stronger, our conferences expanding, and an increasing number of educators around the world benefiting from our outstanding faculty development offerings.

It has been a true privilege to serve as your President. I look forward to continuing to work with many of you on our ongoing journey with IAMSE, and I wish you all a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Thank You,
Peter GM de Jong, PhD
IAMSE President, 2024-2025

President-Elect: Kelly Quesnelle
Secretary: Alana Newell
Treasurer: Kim Dahlman

The current President-Elect, Carol Nichols, will take office as President. 

Please join me in congratulating our new IAMSE officers and in thanking them for their past and ongoing dedication and service. Kelly Quesnelle will move on to President-Elect from her current position of Treasurer. We'd also like to extend a sincere thank you to Sol Roberts-Lieb for his service to IAMSE as he leaves his officer position as Secretary. 

Thank You,
Peter de Jong, PhD, FAMEE
Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands
IAMSE President

Any IAMSE junior faculty, trainee, or student member who is presenting at the 2026 Annual Conference can apply. Awards will only be granted to presenting authors with an accepted oral or poster abstract. Non-presenting authors will not be considered. 

Are you Junior Faculty or a postgraduate trainee? More information and applications for Junior Faculty travel grants can be found and submitted here.

Are you an IAMSE student member? More information and applications for student travel grants can be found and submitted here.

The deadline to submit is December 15, 2025.

Apply for IAMSE 2026 Junior Faculty & Trainee Travel Award!

Apply for IAMSE 2026 Student Travel Award!