In Praise of Virtue, Jack Coulehan, MD

Director's Corner

Kern INstitute’s Educational Transformation in Teaching Competence, Caring, and Character (KINETIC³) Teaching Academy: The fifth cohort graduates! 



By Adina Kalet, MD, MPH

To kick off this Transformational Times issue curated by members of the Kern Institute Faculty Pillar reflecting on the impact of KINETIC³ —our signature faculty development program—Dr. Kalet describes the program, its impact, its legacy, and how we are building the capacity for transformational change, one educator at a time ...  

“Never forget we are educating physicians” whispers the purple and blue quilt I stitched a few years ago while editing a book on remediation in medical education. Putting this motto on fabric was what I needed at the time to quell the doubts and survive those lonesome hours spent honing my own expertise as a medical educator. As I slowly crafted chapter after chapter aimed at capturing my own experience and guiding other educators and learners as they navigated treacherous terrain, the quilt reminded me how what I was doing matters. 

Perspective/Opinion

Celebrating Educator Excellence: Never. Stop. Learning 

By Kristina Kaljo, PhD

Is the concept of excellence subjective? Is excellence discipline-specific? More importantly, as educators, how do we strive for excellence? Here's a thought – never stop learning (and always find time to celebrate!)

In just two short weeks, on June 15^th, we will celebrate the graduation of 34 professionals who participated in the Kern Institute’s KINETIC3 Teaching Academy. Through monthly workshops, research bootcamps, and individual and collaborative assignments, KINETIC³ participants explored their professional identities as educators. Steinert et al. (2019) assert, “to achieve excellence in teaching and learning, faculty members [and other health professionals] need to embrace their identities as teachers and be supported in doing so by their institutions and by faculty development.” 

Perspective/Opinion

Learning about wisdom as a KINETIC³ observer

By Sandra Pfister, PhD

Observe (verb): To watch carefully the way something happens or the way someone does something, especially in order to learn more about it

Looking up how a dictionary defines 'observe' was the catch I needed to write my perspective on what it entails to be Teaching Observation Navigator (ON'or). I was pretty sure I knew what it meant to observe someone teaching especially from the process perspective: Volunteer to be an observer, get paired with a participant of The Kern Institite’s KINETIC ³ Teaching Academy and then find the time to be the observer. Would it be virtual or in person? Could it happen in real time, or would it need to be an observation of a recorded presentation? Once that is all established, then look at participant's learning objectives and what they hope to accomplish. Considering the definition above, I knew I would need to watch carefully but I am not sure I recognized that I would be learning too. And yet that is what happened. My two very different teaching observations examples will explain what I mean. And by sharing with others, I hopefully entice a person to see what they can learn (maybe just about themselves) as an observer in K3.

Perspective/Opinion

From KINETIC³ trainee to faculty in the new MCWFusion^TM Curriculum





By Melanie Gartz, PhD, MS, MHS



Participating in the KINETIC³ program gave me knowledge and skills that I would later tap into as I transitioned from my fellowship into a teaching faculty position…

2022 Was a Year of Big Changes for me Professionally…

Since completing the Kern Institute’s Kinetic3 Teaching Academy in 2022, I have transitioned from my postdoctoral fellowship to Assistant Professor in the Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, where I am part of the teaching faculty team. The program introduced me to educational terminology and techniques that I had not previously gained from my education and training. 

Perspective/Opinion



In search of single notes

By Bryan Johnston, MD



Dr. Johnston shares his early experiences with dynamic moments of learning, the struggle to develop as an educator, and how the Kern Institute’s KINETIC³ Master Educator program helped build his capacity to create these moments for his learners…

I remember sitting at the piano at age 3, trying to recreate the way my mother’s fingers moved across the keys. I smashed down on the keyboard, baffled by the chaotic noise until she guided my hands to the keys, pressing down one by one. I still remember the feeling of the single notes that emerged, how they changed with pressure or duration, how they connected. It was something entirely new, and represented the path from where I had been to where I could be.

Perspective/Opinion



From Participant to Presenter: How KINETIC³ Transformed my Character Strengths

By Chelsea Weaver, PhD



In this essay, I reflect on how different character strengths were activated and challenged as I transitioned from a KINETIC³ participant to a KINETIC³ instructor …

I am so proud to be graduating from the Medical Educator track of the KINETIC³ Program in June. For two years, I have had the great privilege to learn from some of the most dedicated medical educators imaginable. As I’ve learned, I have been able to directly apply workshop content to my own teaching. But what the KINETIC³ instructors best prepared me for was leading my own KINETIC³ session.

As a participant in KINETIC ³ and due to the rich character education embedded in the program, I could easily identify character strengths that were useful as I progressed. My curiosity was strengthened through my capstone project. My gratitude for the instructors and our fearless leaders, Kristina and Vivian, was evident each time I reflected on a workshop or activity. From the very love of learning that I think makes me a strong educator emerged excitement each day that we had a KINETIC³ session. Finally, the strong teamwork component allowed me to build my network, express kindness, and continuously adjust my perspective throughout the past 2 years. 

Perspective/Opinion



Three Questions

By Bill Henk, EdD



Writing for publication is a highly developed skill that typically requires years to master and can benefit from scholarly mentoring. Read about a longtime professional educator who is eager to share his knowledge about writing success honed over several decades as a faculty member and academic administrator in higher education… 

What is your role with the Kern Institute and what goals do you have for that work?

What is your background in academic writing and how did you come to do this kind of work? 

What do you enjoy about academic writing?