gms | German Medical Science

At the annual meeting of the German Society for Medical Education 2013 in Graz, the winners of the GMA award for young medical educators were awarded for the eighth time for outstanding achievements in medical university teaching by the board of the German Society for Medical Education (GMA). This prize is set up by the working group young medical educators of the German Society for Medical Education, which has set itself the goal of improving and strengthening the appreciation, support and training opportunities for young professionals in higher education.

A total of six applications from 6 locations were submitted for the competition (Zürich/Frankfurt, Bonn, Giessen, Frankfurt, Erlangen, Hamburg). For the first time a proposal from Switzerland was submitted.

The assessment of applications is carried out by a 9- member committee, proposed by the GMA Board, according to the criteria for quality and sustainability/innovation of the projects (https://gesellschaft-medizinische-ausbildung.org/aktuelles/gma-preise.html) [1], [2], [3], [4]. Between 0-2 points (0=not met, 1=partially met, 2=met) could be awarded for each of the eight award criteria (criteria points). In addition, the committee members selected the three best applications from their perspective, with a brief justification, and awarded favorite points (1^st place=3 points, 2^nd place=2 points, 3^rd place=1 point). The sum of the criteria and favorite points awarded by the committee members for each submission were determined. The board of the GMA then unanimously chose the final winner team based on the ratings of the reviewers.

The following winner team was chosen (see figure 1 [Fig. 1]):

Dr. Sandy Kujumdshiev, Dr. Daniel Ekhart, Benjamin Weih, Clemens Wurz, Florian Raimann, Torsten Feichtinger (Zürich & Frankfurt)

The following is a summary given by the winning project and exemplary free-text rationales of the reviewers indicating why consider the winning project worthy of the award.

For a doctor it is necessary to know and to identify syndromes and medical constellations. This happens ideally in the education under instructions at the sickbed. Unfortunately, but fortunately from the point of view of the patient, there is not always a patient on the appropriate ward of the hospital suffering from the disease currently being taught according to curriculum.

The Learning Objectives` Catalogue forms a basis for our internal medicine teaching and examination. This Learning Objectives` Catalogue was developed in Frankfurt in 2006 for the first time. It has been adapted to the new needs and requirements (curricular changes) as well as Germany-wide changes (NKLM) and further developed since 2010. The Learning Objectives` Catalogue, however, only becomes a very useful instrument when it has been implemented in all areas of teaching and examination.

The Toolbox Internal Medicine (toolbox) cannot replace the patient. But it can provide learning tools like pictures, videos, sounds, case reports and findings etc.. These tools provide medical students with more realistic pictures of patients and their diagnoses and therapies than text book examples or medical classes can do. The toolbox is available on the internet. Medical students and Medical Faculty members of Frankfurt University can access the toolbox at any time to prepare and revise courses. The toolbox cannot replace bedside teaching, but it can help close the existing gap between theory and practice.

The Learning Objectives` Catalogue forms the structure of the toolbox. Materials were compiled for each learning objective and missing details, e.g. examination videos, were produced in high quality and standardized (by means of the Delphi method in internal medicine) for examinations and teaching. In addition toolbox ring binders containing teaching materials (Learning Objectives` Catalogue, video DVDs, laminated pictures) for faculty development classes and OSCE toolboxes containing examination materials for OSCEs were produced.

Thanks to the kind support of the Messer foundation it was possible to improve practice orientation in clinical-practical teaching and to support OSCEs successfully by using standardized materials. Applicants for the Messer foundation support were Prof. Dr. T.O.F. Wagner as well as Dr. S. Kujumdshiev (MME), teaching coordinator at the Center for Internal Medicine at that time, project coordinator was Dr. D. Ekhart.

• Sustainable, goal-oriented, multi-faceted engagement.
• Development and establishment of a comprehensive and innovative virtual learning-portfolio, which can be reached web-based by the students. Furthermore, complementary training sets for practical skills and practical exams were developed.
• Ambitious and also at other faculties implemented web-based tool, which included in its establishment also aspects of curriculum development, organizational development and personal development.

The submitted applications again demonstrated the im- pressive quality of current projects in medical education. For the first time in the eight-year history of this award, entries have included a Swiss team which finally won. It is highly encouraging to see even young colleagues displaying best scientific practice and professionalization of teaching. Based on these positive experiences, the GMA award for young medical educators will also be awarded next year.

The board of the GMA would like to thank the members of the review committee very much. All six submissions were reviewed by the following 9 committee members:

• Dr. med. Philip von der Borch
• Dr. med. Peter Iblher
• Prof. Dr. Martin Lischka
• PD Dr. Jan Matthes
• Dr. med. Christoph Nikendei, MME
• Dr. Andrea Praschinger
• Dr. rer. med. Katrin Rockenbauch
• Dr. med. Thomas Shiozawa
• Dr. Tobias Weberschock

The GMA award for young medical educators will be awarded in 2014 and 2015 as well. The final date for submissions for 2014 was the 15^th January 2014 and for 2014 is the 15^th January 2015.

For more information on the award and the submission process, visit the homepage of the German Society for Medical Education in https://gesellschaft-medizinische-ausbildung.org/aktuelles/gma-preise.html.

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.