Formation and evaluation of the ASCO medical education community of practice (Med Ed CoP).

Background: High quality education is crucial for hematology/oncology (H/O) training and lifelong learning. However, H/O has historically prioritized clinical and research careers over medical education careers. Consequently, few programs support H/O educators. A CoP is a group that shares “a concern or passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly.” We formed the ASCO Med Ed CoP in 2021 to provide a collaborative network and professional development venue for H/O educators. Methods: Following a published framework for developing a global health professions educator community (Establish-Grow-Sustain), we (ASCO Education Scholars Program graduates) developed CoP mission and vision statements and a leadership structure (Establish), formed committees and projects (Grow), and gathered at the ASCO Annual Meeting and via virtual Town Halls (Sustain). In 2023, we collected demographics and evaluated the CoP using a logic model focused on inputs, activities, outputs, and impact. Results: As of December 2023, the CoP includes 238 members from 143 institutions (38 [27%] non-U.S.): 207 (87%) ASCO members; 127 (53%) women, 106 (45%) men, 5 (2%) no response (NR); 111 (47%) White, 88 (37%) Asian/Pacific Islander, 27 (11%) Latinx/Hispanic, 12 (5%) Black/African-American, 8 (3%) Middle Eastern, 1 (0.4%) African, 16 (7%) NR; 146 (61%) hematologist/oncologists, 68 (29%) trainees, 6 (3%) radiation oncologists, 3 (1%) surgical oncologists, and 15 (6%) other professionals. The logic model is displayed (Table). Conclusions: The CoP has had an impact on its members, ASCO, and beyond and continues to grow and sustain itself by recruiting broadly, driving projects forward, and making structural adjustments for long-term sustainability. Upcoming projects include providing more educational resources and measuring outcomes such as changes in members’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Membership diversity continues to be a challenge and a priority.
Logic model evaluating the ASCO Med Ed CoP.
Inputs Activities Outputs Impact
Committee chairs Leadership meetings 2 ASCO Post articles 3 ASCO Educational Book articles Presentation to American College of Rheumatology about CoP model Model for 11 additional ASCO CoPs Presence in literature
Committee members Committee meetings 5 committees with projects (e.g. mentorship program) Committee members engaged in projects Med Ed mentors and mentees enrolled in ASCO mentorship program
Other members Membership recruitment Town halls Newsletters 238 members 2 town halls 1 newsletter Membership engaged in Med Ed community
ASCO annual meeting space Annual meeting events (speakers, Med Ed literature review) 2022 and 2023 events Recurring annual meeting presence
ASCO MyConnection website Discussion posts Posted resources 55 posts 7 resources Website accessible to membership
Twitter/X account Social media posts 307 followers 78 posts @OncMedEdCoP