Recommendations to guide Vice Chairs for Education in serving as effective leaders

Background: Vice Chairs for Education play an increasingly important role in academic medicine. They often serve in supportive roles overseeing educational initiatives and faculty development, ensuring that education remains prioritized. Literature in this area is limited, especially in obstetrics and gynecology. Prior literature has not been sufficiently directive in identifying best practices in role, mission, and scope for Vice Chairs for Education.

Methods: We developed and facilitated a workshop at the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics - Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (APGO-CREOG) annual meeting in February 2020. We brought together a national group of medical education faculty to elucidate the role of Vice Chairs and offer recommendations. After utilizing a previously described technique for gathering and reporting group recommendations, notes from small- and large-group discussions were collated, coded, and collapsed.

Results: Four broad recommendations resulted. First, role clarity must be ensured, ideally with co-developed guidelines for responsibility. Second, the Vice Chair for Education should be charged with identifying departmental educational initiatives, including faculty development, utilizing best educational practices. Third, Vice Chairs for Education should implement and evaluate educational initiatives to enhance faculty well-being and promote a robust clinical learning environment. Finally, they should integrate with other Vice Chairs for Education within their institution and as part of national organizations to collaborate and develop best practices.

Conclusion: These serve as guidelines to establish success and increase impact and suggest the potential for a national body of Vice Chairs for Education leaders to improve local and national educational outcomes.