Teaching and Mentoring Academy

Stanford Medicine embarked upon a process to transform medical education in 2011, and a series of working groups, with engagement of over 400 members of the community, discussed recommendations to advance and align our curriculum with new pedagogical strategies and our evolving healthcare system.  As we discussed innovations to the education program, it became clear to the leadership how important it is to invest in the development of those who are teaching and mentoring our students in order to truly transform our education programs and innovate. 

To this end, a vision for a teaching and mentoring academy was born and a committee was appointed to plan for its development.

The key goals of the Stanford Medicine Teaching and Mentoring Academy include:

•   Coach, educate, and support faculty in the art of mentoring, course design, evaluation, and teaching, particularly in the context of the evolving role of faculty as career mentors and as teachers and facilitators in interactive learning

•   Reward, acknowledge, and inspire researchers and clinicians to be excellent educators and mentors

•   Underscore the importance of the School of Medicine's teaching and metoring mission and elevate the status of educators across the School 

•   Foster a community of educators and mentors

•   Solicit, review, and make recommendations for curriculum innovation and change within the School of Medicine

The Academy aims to achieve these goals by developing training programs on pedagogy, teaching, and mentoring. The Academy has also established a grant and recognition program to encourage and stimulate new ideas and interventions throughout the School of Medicine and offer consultation to faculty members interested in educational scholarship, including advice on study identification, design, administration, and publication.

The Stanford Medicine Teaching and Mentoring Academy is under direction of the Senior Associate Dean of Medical Education and Senior Associate Dean of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs. The Academy is governed by two Faculty Co-Directors, one basic science faculty and one clinical faculty, and supported by an Administrative Director. The Academy operations and activities are guided by a Steering Committee represented by a broad representation of School of Medicine faculty. There are several entities throughout the Stanford University that provide rich resources to our faculty that the Academy collaborates and coordinates with on a regular basis.