MedCats do Research: The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson

MedCats do Research was founded in 2025 to promote medical education research at The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson.
The goal of this academic channel is to serve as a forum to disseminate scientific articles which contribute to field of medical education. Medical education research covers a wide range of studies that focus on how medical students, residents, and healthcare professionals learn and how education can be improved. The specific content areas for this channel include but are not limited to the following:

Curriculum & Instruction

• Curriculum Development & Evaluation – Assessing new medical curricula or modifications to existing programs.
• Competency-Based Education – Studying the effectiveness of competency-based medical education 
• Interprofessional Education – Investigating collaborative learning between different healthcare professions.
• Integration of Basic & Clinical Sciences – Examining how early clinical exposure affects student learning.

2. Teaching & Learning Methods

• Simulation-Based Learning – Evaluating how high-fidelity simulations improve clinical skills.
• Problem-Based Learning vs. Traditional Learning – Comparing different instructional methods.
• Use of AI & Technology in Medical Education – Examining how artificial intelligence, VR, and gamification enhance learning.

3. Assessment & Evaluation

• Assessment of Clinical Skills – Studying methods like OSCEs (Objective Structured Clinical Examinations).
• Competency Assessment – Evaluating tools for measuring medical competencies 
• Exam Performance & Predictive Validity – Investigating factors influencing scores on licensing exams (e.g., USMLE, NBME).
• Self-Assessment vs. Objective Assessment – Comparing student perceptions with actual performance data.

4. Faculty & Educator Development

• Faculty Training & Development – Evaluating professional development programs for educators.
• Mentorship & Coaching – Examining how mentoring relationships impact career development.
• Teaching Effectiveness – Investigating how different teaching styles affect student outcomes.

5. Student & Resident Learning Experiences

• Student Wellness– Analyzing stress, health, and resilience in medical students. 
• Barriers in Medical Education – Studying barriers and strategies for promoting success among students facing obstacles.
• Transition to Residency – Examining preparedness and gaps between medical school and residency.

6. Residency Training & Graduate Medical Education 

• Residency Selection & Match Process – Studying factors that influence successful residency placement.
• Feedback & Evaluations in Residency – Examining the effectiveness of different feedback methods.
• Fellowship Training & Career Pathways – Researching career development and specialization choices.

7. Professionalism & Ethics in Medical Education

• Ethics & Professional Identity Formation – Studying how students develop ethical reasoning and professionalism.
• Hidden Curriculum – Investigating the implicit lessons learned in medical education outside of formal instruction.

8. Research Methods & Innovation in Medical Education

• Data & Learning Analytics – Using data-driven approaches to track student progress and predict performance.
• Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research in Medical Education – Comparing methodologies used in medical education research. 

Submissions to the channel must include at least one author who is a student at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson. Accepted submissions include original research, case reports/case series, and review articles. All submissions must adhere to the Cureus editorial guidelines.