Dr. Ellie Schoenbaum SOARs through Participation in ELAM

This spring, Drs. Ellie Schoenbaum and Dean Allen M. Spiegel were featured on a panel at the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) meeting. They discussed Dr. Schoenbaum’s ELAM project, the Scholarly Opportunity for Academic Research (SOAR), which will be launched this year with Einstein’s entering Class of 2016.

Dr. Ellie Schoenbaum at the graduation ceremony for ELAM scholarsAs a Fellow of the ELAM Program for Women at Drexel University College of Medicine, Dr. Schoenbaum was required to conduct a project at her home institution that is designed to address an institutional or departmental need or priority.

The scholarly concentration does just that, representing a new program at Einstein that aims to expand research opportunities for medical students to have a longitudinal mentored experience in areas that broaden their medical education. It also provides a new option through which Einstein’s medical students will be able to fulfill their required scholarly project. The project will start with the Class of 2016, with approximately 20 students, following an application process that will begin in late fall of first year.

"Many medical schools have designed programs to promote medical research done by medical students," explained Dr. Schoenbaum, who is professor of epidemiology & population health at Einstein, as well as director of the Clinical Research Training Program and Ph.D. program in clinical investigation. "And the Liaison Committee on Medical Education has recommended that medical education programs should offer sufficient opportunities for medical students to participate in research and other scholarly activities."

Drs. Spiegel and Schoenbaum take part in a panel discussion during the forumShe continued, "While we offer research opportunities to our medical students, SOAR will broaden that experience by expanding it over a student’s entire time at Einstein."

"The program that Ellie will pilot with this year's incoming class will afford those medical students who choose to participate with a more extensive research experience that will allow them to be more fully cognizant of the important interactions between the bench and bedside," said Dr. Spiegel, who recently announced Dr. Schoenbaum’s appointment as director of medical student research. In this capacity, she will oversee the scholarly paper required of all Einstein medical students.

In implementing the project, Dr. Schoenbaum will work closely with another former ELAM Fellow, Dr. Marti Grayson, senior associate dean for medical education.