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Medical Education Day: A Strategy to Showcase Innovation and Research

By Sara Guastello, Yale School of Medicine, Center for Medical Education

In an era of sweeping change in healthcare and medical training – from the integration of artificial intelligence to evolving accreditation standards and growing calls for equity and learner wellness – medical education must continually adapt. edical Education Day at Yale provides a vital space to reflect on these challenges, exchange ideas, and share innovations that drive the field forward. More than a showcase, it fosters a collaborative culture of curiosity, scholarship, and teaching excellence. The article below recaps the 2025 event, spotlighting the conversations and connections shaping the future of medical education at Yale and beyond.

From the Editors

Medical Education Day at Yale (Med Ed Day) is a strategic initiative that fosters collaboration, mentorship and innovation in educational scholarship. Hosted by the Yale School of Medicine (YSM) Center for Medical Education (the Center), the annual symposium brings together health professions educators to share evidence-informed practices and advance the future of medical education. The Center, formerly known as the Teaching and Learning Center, was established in 2012 in support of YSM’s mission to educate and nurture creative leaders in medicine and science, and promote curiosity and critical inquiry in an inclusive environment. The Center offers a comprehensive set of programs and services to cultivate a vibrant culture of teaching excellence, innovation, and educational scholarship. These are offered to educators in undergraduate, graduate, and continuing medical education, as well as to students interested in medical education.

Showcasing scholarship and building connections

Among this robust set of offerings is Med Ed Day, which every year spotlights innovative approaches in pedagogy, assessment, curriculum development, and more. The event examines the latest research in the field and convenes educators and learners to explore challenges in medical education.

A unique aspect of Med Ed Day is its emphasis on community-building. Structured as a half-day, in- person symposium, the event brings together faculty, fellows, residents, students and staff from across the Yale Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Public Health. Participants are encouraged to submit their scholarly work for presentation, engage with others to learn about medical education scholarship at Yale, and explore opportunities for collaboration and knowledge-sharing.

The day is structured around these dual aims of knowledge-sharing and community-building. A peer-reviewed poster session, hands-on workshops and topical oral presentations highlight the work of Yale faculty and students. Networking opportunities promote collaboration, idea exchange, and the strengthening of professional relationships.

In addition, every year a thought leader in the field is invited to deliver a topical keynote address centered on the evolving landscape of health professions education. To encourage participation, there is no charge to attend, and continuing education credits are provided.

The 13th annual Med Ed Day

The 13th annual Med Ed Day was held on June 5, 2025. More than 200 faculty, alumni, fellows, residents, students and staff registered to attend. Approximately half presented their work through posters, oral presentations, or workshops. Fifteen attendees were recognized during a graduation ceremony at the end of the day to celebrate their completion of the one-year Education Scholar Fellowship (ESF). Each fellow completed a scholarly project that was presented during the poster session. Other presenters included medical students enrolled in YSM’s longitudinal Medical Education Concentration, students and alumni of the school’s Master in Health Science-Medical Education track degree program, and alumni of the Medical Education Fellowship, a precursor to the ESF. In this way, Med Ed Day serves as a platform for disseminating the scholarly work of medical education program participants and highlights opportunities for those interested in medical education to engage with Yale’s vibrant medical education community.

The future is now:
the impact of AI on medical education

The day kicked off with a thought-provoking keynote address delivered by Marc M. Triola, MD, Associate Dean for Educational Informatics and Director, Institute for Innovations in Medical Education at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. In a talk entitled, “From Bytes to Bedside: Exploring the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Medicine and Medical Education,” Triola shared his thoughts on how the rapid advances in and accessibility of AI are transforming health care and medical education.

Spotlight on scholarship

One of the highlights of Med Ed Day is the emphasis on peer-reviewed medical education scholarship contributing to the growing evidence base for best practices in health professions education. In 2025, six abstracts were selected for oral presentation. Presenters included YSM faculty, residents and students. The first block of presentations explored the use of simulation and integrative educational tools to enhance clinical reasoning and care practices in women’s and gender health. The second block examined the impact of team culture, leadership perceptions, and wellness initiatives on the learning experiences and professional development of trainees.

A record 90 posters were accepted for presentation during the 2025 Med Ed Day Poster Session. The posters encompassed a wide range of themes, including innovative pedagogical approaches, needs assessments, and curriculum development across various specialties. Additionally, posters explored the use of technology and novel methods, such as asynchronous learning, simulation-based training, and virtual techniques.

A rigorous peer review poster judging process took place earlier in the week. A panel of eight judges scored the posters on scholarly rigor and presentation quality. The top Medical Education Research poster was: “Introduction to Language Barriers in Healthcare: Practice with Medical Interpreters–A Clinical Arts & Sciences Session for MS1 Medical Students.” The top Innovation in Education poster was: “An innovative trauma training simulation curriculum to improve pediatric trainees’ comfort in trauma resuscitation skills.” Two posters in each category were also selected for honorable mention. In addition, given the record number of student poster submissions, for the first time a special student poster award in each category was conferred. The top student poster in the Medical Education Research category was titled: “Enduring Gaps in Representation: A Comprehensive Reanalysis of Skin of Color in Popular Medical Education Materials.” In the Innovations in Education category, the top student poster was: “Design, Implementation and Evaluation of a Novel Musculoskeletal Medicine Elective for Yale Medical Students.”

Engaging workshops

Two featured workshops facilitated by YSM medical education leaders provided rich opportunities for engagement. The first workshop focused on enhancing educational scholarship at Yale by offering participants access to resources and mentoring through a dynamic speed mentoring format. The second workshop examined the characteristics of an effective small group learning environment in the pre-clerkship phase and provided opportunities for participants to build their own skills in small-group teaching. Attendees observed a demonstration of a student-centered approach to small group teaching and reflected on opportunities to adapt their teaching to this student-centered approach.

The power of Med Ed Day

Med Ed Day 2025 demonstrated the impact of bringing together people passionate about education to share ideas, scholarship, and solutions. Medical Education Day at Yale 2026 will take place on June 4, 2026, offering an opportunity to reconvene and see how the innovations and scholarly efforts sparked at this year’s event have advanced excellence in medical education at Yale and beyond.

Photo credit: Anthony DeCarlo, Yale School of Medicine Staff Photographer.