On March 15, 2025, the Department of Anesthesiology Education Retreat took place at the Health Sciences Learning Center in Madison, Wisconsin, bringing together a diverse group of educators and researchers to discuss the latest trends and strategies in education. The retreat featured a series of insightful presentations and discussions led by the Department of Anesthesiology professionals.
Dr. Kristin Bevil, Vice Chair of Education, kicked off the day with an overview of the department’s educational vision and priorities. She highlighted the significant updates and future directions for the department’s education mission, setting a positive tone for the rest of the retreat.
Kellie Baumann, Research Program Manager, emphasized the importance of research resources and the impact of being a principal investigator (PI), and sub-PI on career advancement. She encouraged exploring involvement in clinical trials and highlighted departmental resources for both clinical and educational research.
Melanie Hoffman, Communications and Marketing Manager, then discussed program branding, focusing on the effective use of social media, recruitment events, and conference attendance to further enhance the department’s visibility and reputation.
Dr. Eric Simon, Residency Program Director, captivated the audience with his presentation on harnessing AI in education, exploring innovative ways to integrate artificial intelligence into teaching and learning processes.
After a short break, Dr. Bevil returned to discuss motivation and professionalism, delving into the differences between internal and external motivation and how to foster each. She also addressed the importance of defining professionalism.
Dr. Pat Meyer, Associate Residency Program Director, led a session on feedback, evaluation, and remediation, providing valuable insights into effective assessment practices and strategies for supporting student growth.
In the interest of time, Dr. Robbie Shaw, Associate Vice Chair of Education, volunteered to share his presentation on learning taxonomies and improving didactics with the group after the retreat.
The retreat ended with a closing session by Dr. Bevil, summarizing the key takeaways and outlining the next steps in education for the department.