Asano-Gonnella Center for Research in Medical Education & Health Care

The Asano-Gonnella Center for Research in Medical Education and Health Care provides methodological and technical support to faculty in evaluating students’ knowledge, skills, and professionalism throughout the MD curriculum. The Center also provides the administration with information on metrics used to assess the effectiveness of policies related to admissions, the curriculum, and students’ academic progress. Center faculty conduct medical education research focused on educational and patient outcomes, professionalism, and the development and improvement of assessment and educational tools. A major component of this work is the well-known Jefferson Longitudinal Study of Medical Education. Through this study, the Center annually collects information on students’ future plans, attitudes, personal qualities, and perceptions of their medical education at Sidney Kimmel Medical College through on-line surveys. The study also includes assessments of  graduates’ clinical competence provided by residency program directors. Previously, the Center collected this information using its own rating form at the completion of the first year of residency. However, as a result of a recent contractual agreement with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the Center has discontinued use of this form and is now obtaining data from AAMC Resident Readiness Survey, which provides information on the performance of Sidney Kimmel Medical College graduates during the first six months of residency. Beginning with next year’s annual report, the Center will report findings from the AAMC Resident Readiness Survey. In addition, Center faculty collaborate with clinical and non- clinical Thomas Jefferson University faculty on research and scholarly activities aimed at identifying and addressing health disparities. These collaborations employ quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches, with findings disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and inter­national scientific meetings. The Center continues to receive external support for research in medical education, health services, and health policy.

Center researchers developed and maintain the Jefferson Longitudinal Study of Medical Education and instruments including the Jefferson Scale of Empathy© and the Disease Staging severity classification which have been used in the US and internationally to measure medical education outcomes and physician competence, and document quality and cost of health care. The Center combines service to the Jefferson community with a broad spectrum of  research studies and other externally-funded projects as described in our annual report (PDF).