title: Project-based faculty development by international health professions educators: practical strategies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Project design and implementation, applied to real life situations, is emerging as an educational strategy for application of health professions faculty development learning within a supportive environment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We conducted a retrospective analysis of project evolution to identify common experiences, challenges, and successful strategies of 54 mid-career faculty members from 18 developing countries who attended the Foundation for the Advancement of International Medical Education and Research Institute between 2001 and 2006 and designed, conducted, and evaluated education innovations at their home institutions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chronological analysis of the evolution of 54 projects over the initial 16-18 months of the 2-year Fellowship was based on an iterative qualitative analysis of 324 reports and individual interview transcripts collected over 6 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Useful skill areas for project implementation included educational methods, leadership and management, and relationships/collaboration. Common challenges included competing responsibilities, lack of protected time, and limited resources. Themes identified with the evolution and success of education innovation projects included leadership and organization, collaboration, personal professional growth, and awareness of the relevant societal context.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Common challenges and success factors in project-based faculty development were identified. Twelve practical strategies to promote successful project-based faculty development emerged that can be generalized for faculty development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, NM, USA. menninsp@gmail.com
authors.forename: Stewart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mennin
authors.forename: Summers
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kalishman
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Eklund
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: Page S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Morahan
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Burdick
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003479:Curriculum; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D007857:Leadership; D017145:Models, Educational; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013192:Staff Development / Q000458:organization & administration*