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Western Region Group on Educational Affairs
Business Meeting
I. Introduction
A. Grand Initiative Proposal to Package Competency Related Resources and Offer “Train the Trainers” Workshops
There was some discussion of the potential audience which might be interested in participating in these workshops at the regional level. The consensus of the group was that while individual program directors might be invited to participate, the focus should be placed on providing training to individuals who can then function at the level of their own institution to provide training to individual program directors.
B. Proposal to Offer a National Spring GEA Meeting
Mike Prislin provided a summary of steering committee discussion pertaining to asking the regions to consider the desirability of having national GEA meetings at some to be determined frequency. The advantages of a National GEA meeting would include the opportunity to offer a much more substantial amount of programming than is currently feasible at the annual meeting, to relieve the regions of the administrative burden of planning for meetings, and to relieve the regions ( and the host institutions) of the financial risk associated with putting on a regional meeting. It was pointed out that at least one region has experienced a catastrophic financial loss associated with their spring meeting during recent years, and as a result the regional leadership is having great difficulty finding willing host institutions. It was also pointed out that many meetings including last year’s combined WGEA/WGSA meeting (which has in the past realized a small profit) experienced a deficit, and that this year’s regional will also have a small net loss. The membership expressed considerable ambivalence about having national meetings. Some felt that there would be some advantage in terms of the additional educational opportunities while others wondered whether it would be largely duplicative. Most felt that if national meetings are to be offered they should occur on a relatively infrequent basis much like what currently takes place with the periodic national GSA meetings. Many felt that meeting size, location and content would strongly influence whether or not they would attend. Deborah Danoff suggested that the membership be polled regarding their preferences in this regard. Mike Prislin said that he would put a discussion item to this effect on the WGEA listserv. There was a strong consensus among the membership that whatever occurs with respect to the development of a national meeting, annual regional meetings should continue to occur. Advantages of the regional meeting format that were cited included there relative low cost and convenience to attendees, their intimate and supportive environment which fosters a positive learning and networking environment for junior faculty, and the opportunities the regional meeting affords to try out innovative programming. Brownie Anderson indicated that there are a number of ways that the AAMC may be able to assist the regions in terms of the regional meetings. This includes preparation and transmission of calls for submissions, preparation of meeting programs and other related printed/graphic materials, and potentially conference registration functions. Tracy Veach indicated that such assistance would be enormously helpful and substantially decrease meeting administrative expenses.
Mike Prislin reminded the members that the AAMC paper on URM definitions has been placed on the website for their review and comment. He indicated the proposed change in definition could allow schools greater latitude in identifying underrepresented groups based upon the specific demographic characteristics of their region, and such a change could have profound implications in terms of recruiting and educational priorities as well as funding mandates.
Brownie Anderson described the history and significance of the Merrel Flair Award. Mike Prislin asked members to submit the names of potential nominees to him in person or via email.
Mike Prislin described the report card exercise at the last steering committee meeting, indicating the national GEA chair Jim Wooliscroft wished to solicit this input from the regional constituencies as well. Brownie Anderson reviewed the items on the report card emphasizing that these functions represent the key objectives of the GEA as articulated in its most recent mission statement. Report cards were distributed to the membership, and Mike asked that they be returned to either he or Brownie before the end of the meeting.
IV. WGEA Leadership
Mike Prislin announced that the terms of the following positions will conclude at the time of the fall meeting:
Mike indicated that nominations should be forwarded to Ed Keenan who is the current nominations chair. Mike reminded the membership that they will receive a recommended slate of candidates at the upcoming fall meeting with option of submitting additional nominations from the floor at the time of the meeting also being available.
There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned.
Members Present: Mike Prislin, Chair; Carol Hodgson, Chair elect and 2004 program co-chair; LuAnn Wilkerson, Treasurer; Ed Keenan, Nominations (past chair); Ray Wong, Member at large; Tracy Veach, Program chair; Carol Kamin and Jerry Merenstein, 2005 Program chair designees ( University of Colorado); Burt Dudding UME representative; Fred Wolf, RIME representative; Jill Keller, Substituting for Sue Ellis, GME representative.
Members absent: Sue Ellis; Ron Edelstein, CME representative.
Mike Prislin began the meeting by thanking conference program chair Tracy Veach for all of his efforts on behalf of the group in organizing the 2003 spring meeting. These sentiments were reinforced by the other members of the committee.
Mike informed the committee that Fred Wolf has decided to
step down as RIME representative. Fred stated that he has represented the
region through several terms during which period substantial turnover has
occurred in all of the other regions’representatives and in his opinion it
is time for new representation from the west. Mike thanked Fred for his service
to the region and announced that he was proposing Jan Carline of the
Mike indicated that a major concern over the past two years has been how to invigorate the participation of the GME and CME sections in regional activities. Mike indicated that he and Sue Ellis have spent the past year reviewing the WGEA membership roster in order to be sure that all GME participants can be identified. The executive committee suggests that this group now be surveyed to gain their perspective regarding how the region might best serve their professional development needs. It is the sense of the committee that efforts should be particularly focused toward GME deans and those individuals involved in GME who particularly aspire to leadership positions. It is the sense of the committee that many resources are currently available to assist individual program directs via their specialty societies and board organizations. The committee feels that it would be wise to identify specific areas where we might be able to offer specific support. Residents as Teachers curriculum development, and offering training to newly designated chief residents were identified as two such areas.
Mike reported to the committee discussions that he has had with Ron Edelstein regarding invigorating the CME section. In particular Mike presented Ron’s proposal that WGEA consider assuming a policy development role with respect to emerging CME issues. Mike reported that he has presented this concept to the national steering committee and there is no objection so long as it is clear that any policies so developed are clearly identified as expressing the opinion of the WGEA, not the AAMC at large. Several members of the committee expressed enthusiasm for this idea. Possible topics for policy development that were mentioned include Industry Relations and the Support of CME, the Recertification Process and Various Options for Assessment, and the Utilization of Technology in CME. In terms of a preferred process for such policy development activities the consensus of the committee is that the annual regional meeting provides the best forum for accomplishing such work.
The committee next turned its attention to a discussion of
the current meeting. Strengths particularly identified included the brief
oral presentation sessions and the professional competency development workshop
put on by faculty from the
Mike closed the meeting by thanking the members of the executive committee for their hard work, contributions and assistance during the past two years.
