RABKIN FELLOWSHIP IN MEDICAL EDUCATION
REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS
FELLOWSHIP PERIOD: JULY 1, 2016 – JUNE 30, 2017
The Shapiro Institute for Education and Research at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel
Deaconess Medical Center is pleased to announce a Request for Applications for a one-year Rabkin
Fellowship in Medical Education for academic year 2016-2017.
Eligibility
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HMS faculty who are able to secure 20% protected time during AY2016-2017
BIDMC-based clinical fellows who are able to dedicate 20% protected time during
AY2016-2017 (up to one position available)
Goals of the Fellowship
Established in 1998 in honor of Mitchell Rabkin, MD, CEO emeritus of Beth Israel Hospital, the
Fellowship provides individuals with an opportunity to develop the expertise and skills needed to
launch or advance an academic career in medical education and/or educational leadership.
The Rabkin Fellowship is co-directed by Grace Huang, MD and Lori Newman, MEd. Rabkin alumni,
and invited experts in medical education, including Dr. Charles Hatem, founding director of the
Rabkin Fellowship, facilitate selected seminar sessions and provide support to the fellows.
In this Fellowship, participants will:
 Develop and enhance their skills as medical educators
 Conduct education research or undertake an educational project in an important area
of medical education, including UME, GME, and CME/faculty development
 Learn the principles of effective academic leadership and develop the skills needed to
create educational change
 Become members of a community of educators dedicated to excellence in teaching
across the continuum of medical education
Rabkin Fellowship content and structure
1. The Rabkin Fellowship involves participation in weekly, 2-hour seminars over a 9-month
period. The curriculum covers a broad spectrum of historical and contemporary issues in
medical education, including:
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Application of adult learning theories to clinical teaching
Curriculum development and evaluation
Learner feedback and assessment
Classroom, bedside, case-based, and procedural teaching skills
Relevance of the humanities to medical education
Educational administration and leadership
2. Experiential learning is a cornerstone of the Fellowship. Fellows conduct and report on master
teacher observations, are videotaped while teaching, engage in role plays, lead case-based
discussions, and create educational products.
3. Fellows spend the year developing an educational project or research study in medical
education. They must select a mentor to help guide their project or research work. All fellows
present their projects at a concluding symposium.
4. Fellows also participate in HMS-wide dedicated medical education research sessions, which
also allow fellows to network with other medical education fellows.
Project proposals
All proposals will be considered, but we place priority on projects that involve innovative teaching
strategies and represent a broad-based contribution to the field of medical education. Additional
topics of high interest include:
Critical Thinking
High Value Care
Healthcare Disparities
Population Health
Team-based Learning
Cognitive Learning Theory
Interprofessional or Interdisciplinary Training
Peer Observation of Teaching
Resident-as-Teacher
Simulation
Flipped Classroom or Case-based Collaborative
Learning
Financial support
Applicants must commit 20% of their total work effort toward the Fellowship Program, including
attending all weekly seminars, completion of assignments, and project work.
A stipend of $20,000 is provided to Rabkin Fellows whose primary hospital or clinical fellowship
appointments are made through departments at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The
Shapiro Institute disburses the stipend to the fellow’s departmental budget in remuneration for
the protected time.
While Rabkin Fellowships in Medical Education are open to all faculty members who have a
primary appointment at HMS, and who are currently engaged in ongoing teaching activities within
the HMS system, stipends for faculty who are on staff outside of BIDMC must be provided by the
sponsoring Harvard-affiliated institution.
Selection process
All applications are reviewed by a selection committee composed of both HMS and BIDMC
educational leadership. Finalists will be invited for an interview with the Directors. Selection
criteria include:
 A track record of commitment to medical education and a current venue for teaching (e.g.
medical students, residents, fellows)
 Demonstrated interest in scholarly exploration and application of medical education
principles
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Clear rationale explaining how the Fellowship will help achieve one’s professional goals
Commitment and plan to prepare for and actively participate in the weekly seminars
A feasible project proposal with direct applicability to the field of medical education and a
commitment to complete the project
In choosing the Fellowship class, attention is paid to group balance as well as discipline and
institutional diversity. Applicants in program leadership positions and clinical fellows likely to
transition to faculty positions at BIDMC will receive special consideration.
Applications are due Friday, February 26, 2016 at 5PM. Rabkin Fellowship awards will be
announced in late March 2016.
RABKIN FELLOWSHIP IN MEDICAL EDUCATION
REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS
FELLOWSHIP PERIOD: JULY 1, 2016 – JUNE 30, 2017
www.bidmc.org/rabkinfellowship
INSTRUCTIONS
The following application documents should be sent in a single email to the contact below:
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The application coversheet
A personal statement describing your interest in teaching and/or educational leadership
and outlining what you hope to gain from the Fellowship
A one to two-page description of a project you wish to pursue during the Fellowship year,
including the following elements:
o Rationale/background
o A clear statement of purpose
o Description of intervention and/or methodology
o Potential evaluation strategies
A copy of your HMS-formatted Curriculum Vitae
The following letters of recommendation should be emailed directly from the author to the contact
below:
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A letter of recommendation and support from your Department Chair or Division Chief,
which should include a clear statement of commitment to provide 20% FTE dedicated time
for you during the Fellowship year
A letter of recommendation from a colleague, supervisor, or trainee who can attest to your
commitment and involvement in medical education
For clinical fellow applicants: A letter of recommendation and support from your Program
Director, which should include a statement of commitment to provide dedicated time (20%
FTE) for you during the Fellowship year
Completed applications are due by Friday, February 26, 2016 at 5PM without exception,
including all letters of support and recommendation, to enter consideration. Rabkin
Fellowship awards will be announced in late March 2016.
CONTACT: Ms. Amber Lovendale, Shapiro Institute for Education and Research at HMS and
BIDMC, email: alovenda@bidmc.harvard.edu; phone: 617-667-9120; fax: 617-667-9122
RABKIN FELLOWSHIP IN MEDICAL EDUCATION AY2016-2017
APPLICATION COVER SHEET
Last name:
First name:
Post-graduate degree(s):
HMS academic title:
HMS-affiliated institution:
Department/Division:
Fellowship Program (if applicable):
Best Phone Number to Reach You (may be a
cell phone #):
Email:
Name of Department Head or Division Chief:
Name of Fellowship Program Director (if
applicable):
Name of reference:
Reference email:
Title of proposed project: