Journal article
Let the Program Evaluation Committee SOAR: Applying the Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results (SOAR) Framework for Program Evaluation
Southern medical journal (Birmingham, Ala.), Vol.116(10), pp.819-825
10/2023
DOI: 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000001606
PMID: 37788816
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Annual program evaluations are important activities of all graduate medical education programs. Although the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education provides general guidelines, there is substantial scope for educational innovation. Strengths, opportunities, aspirations, and results (SOAR) is a strengths-based framework for strategic planning. Because SOAR emphasizes positivity and engagement, it is an appealing framework for evaluating graduate medical education programs. Our objective was to demonstrate the feasibility and acceptability of SOAR in a program evaluation committee of a fellowship program to generate strategic initiatives. METHODS: The authors used the four steps of SOAR within the program evaluation committee in 2022. Interviewers collected positive stories to understand program strengths. Then, rapid ideation was used to translate strengths into opportunities. These opportunities were condensed and refined for fellows to assess how well they align with aspirations. The ones that aligned best with aspirations were prioritized for implementation. Results were monitored through a scorecard based on specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals every month. RESULTS: Of 15 divisional members, 11 participated (73.3%). Five major strengths were identified: supportive environment, variety of cases, scheduling flexibility, integration with larger networks, and multidisciplinary collaboration. These 5 yielded 15 opportunities, which were refined and condensed to 9. Four were selected for implementation: scholarly works accountability group, hybrid-flex curriculum, fellowship weekly huddles, and structured electives. Scorecards have shown successful implementation during a 4-month period. CONCLUSIONS: SOAR is an innovative and feasible approach to program evaluation that uses trainee engagement to translate and synergize existing program strengths into actionable program improvement.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Let the Program Evaluation Committee SOAR: Applying the Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results (SOAR) Framework for Program Evaluation
- Creators
- Bharat KumarAlick FengGatr-alnada GherianiAyesha IftekharRuoning NiShadeh Ghaffari-RafiSvjetlana DolovcakPatricia Bruffey ThoeneAaron KnaackMelissa L. SweeBenjamin DavisManish Suneja
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Southern medical journal (Birmingham, Ala.), Vol.116(10), pp.819-825
- DOI
- 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000001606
- PMID
- 37788816
- ISSN
- 0038-4348
- eISSN
- 1541-8243
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 10/2023
- Academic Unit
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Nephrology; Immunology; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984473778002771
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