title: The Long-Term Career Outcome Study (LTCOS): what have we learned from 40 years of military medical education and where should we go?
abstract: The work of the Long-Term Career Outcome Study (LTCOS), F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) has been a multidisciplinary effort spanning more than 5 years. Borrowing from the established program evaluation and quality assurance literature, the LTCOS team has organized its evaluation and research efforts into three phases: before medical school, during medical school, and after medical school. The purpose of this commentary is to summarize the research articles presented in this special issue and to answer two fundamental questions: (1) what has been learned from LTCOS research conducted to date, and (2) where should the LTCOS team take its evaluation and research efforts in the future? Answers to these questions are relevant to USU, and they also can inform other medical education institutions and policy makers. What is more, answers to these questions will help to ensure USU meets its societal obligation to provide the highest quality health care to military members, their families, and society at large.
authors.affiliation: F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Durning
authors.forename: Anthony R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Artino
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Cruess
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Gilliland
authors.forename: Kent J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: DeZee
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saguil
authors.forename: Donna M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Waechter
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: McManigle
mesh_terms: D002321:Career Choice; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007857:Leadership; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D016730:Program Development; D013337:Students, Medical; D014481:United States