The Education Division within the Department of Pediatrics is committed to participating in and producing high quality research dedicated to advancing the science of medical education. Partnering with colleagues across the USU, the Val G. Hemming Simulation Center, Walter Reed Military Medical Center, and other military treatment facilities, we explore topics ranging from curriculum design and assessment, faculty development, simulation based medical education and the integration of emerging technologies. Our rigorous research provides the evidence base to optimize military medical training and resources, ultimately ensuring medical providers are expertly prepared to care for the unique needs of warfighters' families, sustain their well-being during deployments, and contribute to the overall readiness of the force. We invite medical students in all stages of their career to explore our work and join us in shaping the future of medical education.
We continuously work with students to develop their Capstone research projects for presentation at the annual USU research days as well as other regional and national conferences.
Please contact faculty within the division if you are interested in ongoing research.
ongoing projects in pre-clerkship
Faculty are undertaking research projects focused on improving the quality and quantity of pediatrics content within the Pre-Clerkship curriculum.
Using pre-clerkship specific questions from the COMSEP (Council on Medical Student Education in Pediatrics) Annual Survey of its membership, USU faculty members are collaborating with civilian partners to provide a data-driven needs assessment related to pre-clerkship pediatric content and opportunities for pediatric educators to be active within the pre-clerkship phase of the curriculum. This data will also provide baseline information about whether undergraduate medical education institutions have dedicated roles (such as a Pre-clerkship Pediatric Discipline Director), funding, and/or time to address pediatric content early in the curriculum.
Several faculty are conducting curricular reviews across the entirety of the USU pre-clerkship curriculum to determine where and in what ways pediatric correlations are currently provided and to inform further efforts to weave pediatrics intentionally throughout all modules.
onging projects in clerkship
At the Clerkship level, faculty are implementing quality improvement projects to utilize emerging technologies, like AI and virtual reality, to enhance learning, feedback, and grading processes.
We are using our simulation expertise to develop and deploy new task trainers and curricula to support the infant hip examination to detect developmental dysplasia and develop competency in performing an infant circumcision to reduce complications. Both of these tasks can be taught to clerkship students before their rotations in order to instill confidence and competence.
A key branch of the Clerkship-focused research is to understand the learner experience through a holistic lens, delving into the nuanced aspects of feedback and reflective practice. Two ongoing projects exemplify this approach: First, researchers are conducting a qualitative thematic analysis of feedback provided to students during their pediatric clerkship rotation, aiming to illuminate common themes across the feedback as well as trends among preceptors and clerkship sites.
Second, we are exploring pediatric clerkship students’ written work, specifically, their experiences with uncertainty and ambiguity in medicine. Through this analysis, we seek to uncover how students navigate complex clinical situations and develop crucial skills in adaptability and critical thinking. Together, these projects provide valuable insights into the lived experiences of our learners, informing strategies to enhance pedagogical practices and foster a more supportive and effective learning environment.
Ongoing projects in Advanced clinical rotations and beyond
We are introducing pediatric trauma to the Gunpowder and Bushmaster field exercises in order to get our students comfortable with this patient population in an operational environment. Current research in this area is in cooperation with the Military and Emergency Medicine Department at USU and involves not only pediatric mannequins, but also immersive virtual reality methodologies.
Key faculty are also working on curriculum development projects, ensuring the content and delivery of courses like the Military Medical Humanitarian Assistance Course (MMHAC) reflect the latest in military medical advancements and educational theory.