Offices of research in medical education: accomplishments and added value contributions

Purpose: Offices of research in medical education have been in existence since the Ist one was begun by Hale Hamm at Case Western Reserve in 1958. There are now 61 medical schools in North America that have a formal office of medical education (OME) and are part of the Society of Directors of Research in Medical Education (SDRME). The purpose of this study was to report how SDRME and OMEs have contributed to the research in medical education (RIME) efforts. Summary: This study reports specific initiatives that have been begun by the SDRME culled from historical documents and business meeting minutes and profiles results of the 2000 biannual membership survey that describe what the individual units are doing in support of their institutions. As an organization, SDRME sponsors literature reviews, 5 of which have been published in peer-reviewed journals. It has also collaborated with the American Medical Association, the National Institutes of Health Bureau of the Health Professions (NIH BHP), and the Association of American Medical Colleges in offering conferences and workshops. SDRME worked with the Macy Foundation on a grant initiative which by November 1993 had established 6 consortia to develop regional centers on clinical competence and with the NIH BHP in the development of a grants program that established centers for RIME. Results from the 2000 membership survey indicate that individual units are heavily tied into evaluation efforts at both the institutional and national levels. Research efforts being engaged by these units have led to a reasonably high, but variable, level of publication activity. The current wave of new curricula being implemented in medical education centers are being heavily supported by these units, with all units being involved in curriculum planning and administration. Conclusions: SDRME has been effective in promoting RIME through sponsoring literature reviews and collaborating with various national organizations. OME units have been effective in serving the needs of their institutions as well as contributing to national research efforts.