The PAPERs Podcast

Farewell to an Era: The Final Episode of the Papers Podcast Dear Listeners, After more than a decade of insightful discussions, laughter, and learning, we are both excited and a bit teary-eyed to bring you the final episode of the Papers Podcast. This isn't just an episode; it's a heartfelt celebration of our journey together. From our humble beginnings recording in hotel rooms to becoming a belov...

How can we make assessments truly equitable? In this episode, Lara dives into a paper that explores fairness, inclusion, and justice as three distinct approaches to equity in assessment. Discover how these orientations can reshape our goals, strategies, and impact in education. This episode unpacks critical frameworks that empower educators to reflect on critically and reimagine assessment systems...

What happens when we set our hosts loose to pick their must-read list of 2024 from papers that didn’t make it into the episodes for all kinds of reasons? You get “Wrapping Papers,” a special year-end episode where Jason, Lara, Linda, and Jon share their favorites with you.  This episode is a celebration of the scholarship that inspires us—and you. Tune in for lively discussions, shared insights, a...

Welcome to a special Holiday Episode of the PAPERs Podcast! In this fun and festive episode, the hosts bring their quirkiest and most unconventional academic papers to the table, sharing surprising insights and plenty of laughs along the way.  The hosts have scoured the academic universe to bring you the following:  How alcohol might just help you solve creative problems. Why eating chocolate coul...

#76 – A review on modern teaching and learning techniques in medical education Are your students truly engaged? In this episode, the hosts dive into a micro-monograph that shakes up stale teaching techniques by showcasing fresh, student-centered methods that go way beyond the classic lecture snooze-fest. With plenty of laughs and a dash of nostalgia, they share their own teaching experiments, swap...

#75 - Hot for Teacher Are we all insane? Given all the contemporary challenges and frictions at work, why do we teach? This episode unpacks the critical factors behind teacher motivation and delivers evidence-based strategies to inspire, recruit, and retain top educators in the health professions using Self Determination Theory. Episode host: Jason R. Frank. Episode article : Orsini, C., Imafuku,...

Feeling lost in the world of literature reviews? Choosing the right type can be overwhelming, from systematic to scoping, realist to narrative. In this episode, Lara breaks it down with clarity.  Learn how to navigate the objectivist–subjectivist continuum, align your review to your research goals, and uncover tools that make the process easier. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned researcher,...

Ever wondered how your first impressions as a clinical supervisor shape your evaluations? This episode uncovers the findings from a recent study on the role of first impressions in performance-based assessments. Learn how explicit and implicit biases can affect your judgment and what you can do to ensure fair and accurate evaluations. Don’t miss this essential discussion on improving your assessme...

#72 - Is This Program Competency-based? In this episode, Jason is tackling a big question in health education: what does it really mean for a program to be "competency-based"? With competency-based education (CBE) becoming a global standard in health professions, the episode breaks down what makes a program truly CBE, from focusing on outcomes and skill progression to using tailored learning exper...

#67 - UPDATED - In this episode, Lara leads a conversation about AI and the current body of knowledge about AI that is growing rapidly in Medical Education. Everything you need to know about AI in MedEd is in this paper!  Don't miss out—listen now to stay ahead in this rapidly evolving field! Plus, check out the detailed speaker notes for more insights. Episode host: Lara Varpio. You can find epis...

Live Fast and Die-Hard: Finding Heroic Career Paths in Training Stories  This week, Jason’s paper dives into how health professionals find their career paths. Learn about die-hards, negotiators, migrants, and how Jon almost joined the clergy.  Episode host: Jason R. Frank You can find episode notes and resources at the  Papers Podcast episode website . Episode article:Rozario, S. Y., Farlie, M. K....

  #69 – Three Years to MD: Does It Measure Up?  In this episode, we’re diving into the age-old question: is a three-year medical school program just as good as the traditional four-year track? The researchers compared the residency performance of graduates from both programs and found no significant differences, suggesting that you might not need that extra year after all—unless you’re really keen...

#68 - Clinician educators may have similar training content-wise, but the application of that training in widely varied contexts can lead to different outcomes in the stature, roles and recognition of educators. Faculty development initiatives should be co-developed and context sensitive. Episode host: Linda Snell You can find episode notes and resources at the Papers Podcast episode website . Epi...

#67 - In this episode, Lara leads a conversation about AI and the current body of knowledge about AI that is growing rapidly in Medical Education. Everything you need to know about AI in MedEd is in this paper!  Don't miss out—listen now to stay ahead in this rapidly evolving field! Plus, check out the detailed speaker notes for more insights. Episode host: Lara Varpio. You can find episode notes...

#66 - In this episode, we explore the challenges medical educators face while grading students across diverse settings in the Global South. With a mix of personal quirks, varying levels of confidence, and unpredictable environments, the grading process goes beyond simply assessing knowledge. It’s about navigating complexities and adapting to ever-changing circumstances. Join us as we uncover the i...

65 - The growth mindset, which involves learning from mistakes, is a crucial part of professional development for both trainees and seasoned practitioners. This episode explores how experienced clinicians reflect on both their errors and successes to enhance their practice. Tune in for insights into competencies, developmental arcs, and the nuances of educational excellence. Episode host: Linda Sn...

64 - Learners Got Talent? Can innate talent be distinguished from hard-earned skills? Over recent decades, much has been written about the learner in difficulty, but what about the exceptional learner? Jason introduces a paper that spotlights the “talented” trainee  Tune in for insights into competencies, developmental arcs, and the nuances of educational excellence. Episode host: Jason R. Frank Y...

63 - You can’t handle my truth This episode, hosted by Lara Varpio, tackles the pressing issue of mental illness among physicians and trainees—a crisis that remains hidden due to fear and stigma. We examine a crucial study that uncovers the obstacles to self-disclosure in medical training and highlights the ways we can better support those who care for us. Listen in for a powerful discussion on br...

#62 Host Linda Snell are today doing a "consult"; digging a bit deeper into a subject. Explore this guide on faculty development featuring the Four-Quadrant Model by Yvonne Steinert..  Whether you're an educator or a faculty developer, this resource will help you design impactful programs and engage in meaningful professional growth.  For all those links and articles that are mentioned in the epis...

#61 LIVE Session – Getting Realist with New Medical Schools—8C’s for Success But how are new medical schools successfully established? You would think this Herculean institution-building would induce a large body of literature about med-school-making but there is a big gap in the literature. In fact, the authors of today’s paper assert that there is little published empirical evidence to date, nor...

#60 -  How learners choose a digital resource to support their learning Back in the days, “I read it somewhere” was an acceptable reference to authority. Today, highly intelligent, motivated, thoughtful, and critical health professionals are more likely to say, “I heard it on a podcast,” as an equivalent gesture to authority, but how do residents and clinical educators explicitly choose resources...

59 - There’s a place for us, somewhere In this episode, Lara leads a discussion about how authors decide between journals when they are making submissions. With conversation about preprints, factors shaping decisions, and a curated set of resources every author needs, this is a not-to-be-missed episode.  For all those links and articles that are mentioned in the episode, please take a look at the...

#58 - Can the impact on education be measured on patient outcomes? In this episode the hosts take the hotly debate with a recent study published in Jama to their help. Tune in for a discussion that challenges both your workload memory and examines the real-world implications of education in healthcare. Episode host: Jonathan Sherbino You find the episode notes on the website Episode article: Gray,...

In this episode, we talk about curriculum renewal from a different angle:   What happens to the educator’s identity when major reform is undertaken? What happens to that identity when content expertise is only part of what is now required? Episode host: Lara Varpio You find the episode notes on the website Episode article: Volschenk, M., & Hansen, A. (2024). Medical teachers’ identity learning...

#56 This episode contributes to the understanding of medical education's complex organizational structures. The hosts are discussing different ways of looking at it, and is it all in the name? Or perhaps on what they do?  Episode host: Linda Snell You find the episode notes on the website Episode article: Kerns, S. C., Beck Dallaghan, G. L., Borges, N. J., & Huggett, K. N. (2023).  Where Do We...