Article Summary
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine faculty members, students and staff showcased important contributions to medical education at Learn Serve Lead 2025, the flagship conference of the Association of American Medical Colleges.
- Dr. Hilit Mechaber participated in a panel discussion about fostering a culture of well-being among students and trainees and shared ways to meaningfully enhance the learning environment.
- Dr. Sarah Bland and Dr. Maria (Rose) van Zuilen presented research examining gender differences in medical students’ performance on patient care assessments.
Thousands of medical education leaders, faculty and students from across the country recently gathered in San Antonio for the Association of American Medical Colleges’ (AAMC) annual Learn Serve Lead meeting, an event dedicated to advancing collaboration, innovation and transformation in health care, research and education.
The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine was well represented at the conference. Faculty and students shared insights, presented new findings and contributed to national discussions shaping the future of academic medicine.
Fostering Well-Being and Connection in Medical Education
Hilit Mechaber, M.D., senior associate dean for student affairs and associate professor of clinical medicine at the Miller School, participated in a panel discussion about fostering a culture of well-being among students and trainees and shared ways to meaningfully enhance the learning environment.
“What’s really valuable to me is the opportunity to not only talk about key areas of burnout but also to study and dedicate professional research to understanding what is meaningful for our students,” said Dr. Mechaber. “The expectations of today’s learners and trainees are entirely different from what they were just a few years ago.”
Dr. Mechaber highlighted several extracurricular initiatives the Miller School has implemented to promote student wellness, including wellness events and pet therapy sessions. Equally important, she noted, are curricular innovations that embed well-being directly into medical education. For example, students have opportunities to confidentially debrief with medical education faculty after clinical experiences. The practice allows them to reflect, process, challenge and grow from their experiences.
In addition to participating in the panel, Dr. Mechaber presented a poster on the Miller School’s Longitudinal Clinical Educator (LCE) program, which pairs each first-year medical student with a faculty mentor throughout their medical school journey. Early outcomes show the program fosters stronger student-faculty relationships, enhances early clinical skill development and improves performance on key metrics such as the USMLE and NRMP outcomes.
“All of these efforts help us enrich the learning experience for our students while improving educational outcomes,” Dr. Mechaber said.
Students Engaging in National Dialogue
Several Miller School students attended Learn Serve Lead to connect with peers, faculty and institutional leaders, contributing their perspectives to conversations on the future of medical education.
Hallie Remer, from the Miller School’s Class of 2026, and Hannah Mosher, an M.D./M.P.H. student in the Miller School’s Class of 2027, attended in their roles as representatives in the AAMC’s Organization of Student Representatives (OSR). The national body advocates for medical students and helps advance the AAMC’s mission to improve the health of the nation.
“It’s always a great experience learning from other medical students, residents and faculty, and getting to share some of the amazing programs and initiatives we have at the University of Miami,” said Remer.
Exploring Gender Differences in Clinical Education
Sarah Bland, M.D., assistant professor of clinical medicine, and Maria (Rose) van Zuilen, Ph.D., professor of professional practice, both from the Miller School, presented research examining gender differences in medical students’ performance on patient care assessments.
Using data from Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) — performance-based assessments that evaluate clinical and communication skills in simulated scenarios — their research found that female students outperformed male students on physical exam components and written notes.
“We know from the literature that patients cared for by women physicians often experience better outcomes,” said Dr. van Zuilen. “We’re now beginning to see early evidence of that trend among medical students. Identifying these differences early in training may help us design interventions that strengthen skills across the board.”
Dr. Bland and Dr. van Zuilen plan to further explore whether gender-specific training strategies could help address performance disparities and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes.
Tags: Dr. Hilit Mechaber, Dr. Rose van Zuilen, Dr. Sarah Bland, Learn Serve Lead, longitudinal clinician educators, medical education, medical students, student leadership, student research