Maine Medical Center: Fellows of the Academy Application Instructions

Fellow Application Components

1. Online Application Materials

  • Demographic information
  • Narrative – The following must be explicitly described in two separate sections:
    1. Describe your accomplishments in direct teaching and,
    2. in the other area you have selected from the criterion-based matrix.
  • List of courses, certificates and degrees related to medical education that you have completed (e.g. Academy Scholars program).
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Education portfolio (important material you have used in teaching, e.g., powerpoint slides, handouts, curriculum, etc).

2. Letter of nomination from an Academy member or educational leader at MH or its educational partners. This letter must explicitly address the following in four separate sections:

  • Your relationship with the nominee (e.g., colleague, supervisor, mentor, etc) and how long you have known and worked with the nominee (in what capacities).
  • Why you believe the nominee has met the criteria for excellence in direct teaching. Include a description of the opportunities you have had to directly observe her/his teaching and why you think his/her teaching has improved the clinical practice of students, residents, fellows and practicing physicians.
  • The nominee has selected one other area of demonstrated excellence. Please provide evidence of why you think the nominee has demonstrated excellence in this area.
  • Please provide any other information you think that makes the nominee eligible for being a Fellow of the Academy.

3. Letters of support from a colleague (two required). These letters must explicitly address the following in four separate sections:

  • Your relationship with the nominee (e.g., colleague, supervisor, former student, etc) and how long you have known and worked with the nominee.
  • Why you believe the nominee has met the criteria for excellence in direct teaching. Include a description of the opportunities you have had to directly observe her/his teaching and why you think his/her teaching has improved the clinical practice of the students.
  • The nominee has selected one other area of demonstrated excellence. Please provide evidence of why you think the nominee has demonstrated excellence in this area.
  • Please provide any other information you think that makes the nominee eligible for being a Fellow of the Academy.

4. Letters of support from former or current students or protégés (two required). These letters must explicitly address the following in three separate sections.

  • Your relationship with the nominee when you were his/her student/resident/fellows and how much contact you had. What is your current relationship?
  • How would your characterize the nominees teaching style and commitment to your learning.
  • Describe what you learned from the nominee and how this has influenced your care of patients.

Criterion Based Matrix Fellow Nomination Categories

Areas of Excellence

Direct teaching, including didactic and/or clinical teaching of medical students, residents, fellows or peers.

  • Evidence of Excellence: Improvement in the clinical practices of the learners.
  • Supporting Information: Teaching awards, summary of student evaluations, letters from students, reports of peer / supervisor direct observation of teaching performance.

1. Instructional development, course and curriculum design

  • Evidence of Excellence: Creates outstanding courses / curricula that have received excellent and consistent evaluations from learners; courses / curricula have been introduced at other institutions.
  • Supporting Information: Portfolio of materials related to the course or curriculum. Student reviews. Portfolio of materials related to presentations on the course / curricula innovation. Examples of enduring teaching materials (e.g., MedEdPortal submissions).

2. Mentoring

  • Evidence of Excellence: Protégés have advanced to significant positions of educational leadership and teaching excellence.
  • Supporting Information: Letters of support from current and former protégés, documentation of the accomplishments of protégés.

3. Scholarly activity

  • Evidence of Excellence: Following Boyer’s typology of scholarly work:
    • Integration – the intellectual synthesis through review papers and book chapters disseminated nationally.
    • Application – addressing practical application through protocols and guidelines that are adopted locally and nationally.
  • Supporting Information: Publications in peer reviewed journals, book chapters, presentations at national meetings, participation in specialty society development of protocols and guidelines; dissemination of education materials outside of MMC (e.g., MedEdPortal, specialty society meetings, etc).

4. Education research

  • Evidence of Excellence: Original investigations on educational research published in peer reviewed journals.
  • Supporting Information: Education research publications, editorials on education research research, research grants.

5. Educational administration and leadership

  • Evidence of Excellence: Current or past positions of leadership, e.g. clerkship director, residency or fellowship director, etc.
  • Supporting Information: Letters of support from supervisors (e.g., department chair for a residency program director), results of external or internal program reviews, achievements of students applying to and graduating from the program.