Whiddon College of Medicine makes national impact at AAMC’s Learn Serve Lead 2024

Representatives from the Whiddon College of Medicine attende the AAMC annual meeting.

Several members from the Whiddon College of Medicine showcased the institution’s dedication to quality improvement, student wellness, and advancing medical education at the Association of American Medical Colleges’ Learn Serve Lead 2024 annual meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. As the premier event for academic medicine, the conference brought together thought leaders from across the nation to share strategies and drive innovation in healthcare education. 

“Collaboration is at the heart of the Whiddon College of Medicine’s approach to driving innovation in medical education,” said Melisa Pierce, Ed.D., MPA, director of quality improvement. “Through partnerships with other medical colleges, we share knowledge, identify gaps in current research and resources, and develop solutions to pressing challenges. This collective effort ensures that we not only meet but exceed the standards of medical education, equipping our students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed as future physicians.”

Key discussions led by the team included:

• Addressing Conflict and Belonging: Tiquera Hall, Ph.D., MPA, education and training manager, hosted a session on navigating peer-to-peer conflict and microaggressions in collaborative learning groups, emphasizing psychological safety and belonging in medical education.
• Assessment and Learning Improvement: David Williams, Ph.D., MPA, assistant dean for institutional and academic success, led a discussion on closing the loop in course and program assessments, focusing on leveraging data to drive meaningful learning improvements across the curriculum.
• Professional Identity Formation: LoRen Modisa, Ed.D., MPA, director of the Office of Health Advancement, shared strategies for embedding professional identity formation throughout the medical school curriculum, fostering the development of future physicians.
• Peer-to-Peer Programs: Angie O’Neal, M.Ed., director of learning support services, and Becky Smith, Ph.D., health and wellness counselor, discussed the development of two peer-support programs — Peer Emotional and Educational Resilience Support (PEERS) and Peer Academic Leaders (PALs) — that promote wellness and destigmatize help-seeking behaviors among medical students.
• Quality Improvement: Melisa Pierce, Ed.D., MPA, facilitated a session on maximizing the impact of Continuous Quality Improvement Committees, focusing on how structured processes and data-driven decision-making enhance transparency, stakeholder engagement, and sustained improvement in accreditation efforts.

Additionally, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Laventrice Ridgeway, Ed.D., ALC, joined a panel discussion addressing challenges with Medical Student Performance Evaluations (MSPEs), collaborating with colleagues from other medical colleges to explore solutions that enhance the residency application process and better reflect student performance. Ridgeway was also acknowledged as the newly appointed AAMC Group on Student Affairs’ Committee on Student Diversity Affairs Liaison.

“By engaging with academic medicine professionals nationwide, the Whiddon College of Medicine continues to advance its mission of providing the highest quality medical education,” Pierce said. “Participation in Learn Serve Lead allows us to contribute to the broader academic medicine community while driving meaningful improvements within our own institution. These efforts reflect our dedication to fostering excellence and ensuring that our students are prepared to meet the evolving demands of healthcare.”