title: The new and improved learning community at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine resembles that at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In July 2005, a learning community was created at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (JHUSOM) to foster camaraderie, networking, advising, mentoring, professionalism, clinical skills, and scholarship--The Colleges. The cultural and structural changes that emerged with the creation of this program have resulted in JHUSOM bearing a resemblance to J. K. Rowling's fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This manuscript will describe the similarities between these two revered schools, and highlight the innovations and improvements made to JHUSOM's learning environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The intense, stressful, and lengthy professional training required to achieve competency in the practice of medicine and in the practice of witchcraft (albeit fictional) have meaningful parallels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The supportive learning environment at these two schools should afford the next generation of graduates to have an even more enriching experience than those who have come before them.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
authors.forename: Rosalyn W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Allison R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Shochet
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D015142:Baltimore; D003256:Community Participation; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005178:Faculty; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007858:Learning; D008091:Literature; D019365:Metaphor; D012380:Role; D012577:Schools, Medical; D012931:Social Environment; D013337:Students, Medical; D018599:Witchcraft