In this episode of Med Student Over Easy, host Patricia is joined by Stephanie Cohen, DO, Natalie Diers, MD, and Shayne Gue, MD to discuss the exciting opportunities in simulation and medical education fellowships. These programs allow fellows to develop expertise in curriculum design, simulation techniques, and educational strategies. Whether you’re exploring options to complement your clinical skills as an aspiring EM physician or looking to enhance your career in academic medicine, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
What are Simulation and Medical Education Fellowships?
Simulation and medical education fellowships typically span one to two years. These fellowships often combine hands-on experience in simulation-based teaching with curriculum development. Many programs balance clinical duties with didactic sessions focused on simulation or education. They prepare fellows to teach diverse learners, including medical students, residents, nurses, EMS professionals, pharmacists, etc. This versatility makes these programs appealing to those who want to expand their teaching skills across various healthcare disciplines.
Discovering Your Passion for Medical Education
Medical education fellowships can diversify your day-to-day responsibilities and give you a creative outlet outside of clinical work. They also open doors to leadership opportunities, such as program director or associate program director roles, and can help make you more marketable for academic positions. By cultivating teaching skills early, such as tutoring opportunities in medical school, you can gain hands-on experience and determine if medical education aligns with your interests. Even as a medical student, you can get involved in education-focused organizations like ACOEP, ACEP, AAEM, EMRA, or SAEM to build valuable skills and connections that can help you explore your interests in medical education and simulation.
What to Consider When Choosing a Fellowship
When choosing a medical education or simulation fellowship, it’s important to assess how well the program aligns with your long-term career goals. Consider what skills you want to develop and whether the fellowship offers a balance of clinical work and educational responsibilities. Additionally, think about the diversity of learners you’ll be teaching—whether it be medical students, nurses, or other healthcare professionals—and how this fits into your passion for education. Finally, consider the flexibility of the program and whether it offers opportunities to collaborate with other specialties or engage in research, as these experiences can further enrich your fellowship experience.
Take-Home Points:
- Simulation and medical education fellowships allow you to balance clinical practice with a passion for teaching.
- These fellowships are highly flexible, so choose programs that align with your specialty, career goals, and interests—whether in curriculum design, simulation, or broader medical education.
- Pursuing a fellowship in medical education or simulation can open doors to leadership roles, academic positions, and other specialized opportunities.
Post by Mikaela Brown
About Our Guests:
Stephanie Cohen, DO
Director of Simulation and Simulation Medicine Fellowship Director at UCF
Natalie Diers, MD
Simulation Fellow at UCF
Shayne Gue, MD
Assistant Program Director, Medical Education Fellowship Director at UCF
Looking For More?
More from Andy, John, Tanner, and Drew: Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for more information about what the team is reading, listening to and so much more!
More of your favorite EM Over Easy content: As always, you can find more of your favorite EM Over Easy content by following us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram! Also, please rate us on your favorite podcasting app or by visiting MedForums.
As the OFFICIAL podcast of the ACOEP, check out the ACOEP by visiting acoep.org to learn more and sign up for one of their many CME offerings.