title: Lived Experiences of Educational Leaders in Iranian Medical Education System: A Qualitative Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High quality educational systems are necessary for sustainable development and responding to the needs of society. In the recent decades, concerns have increased on the quality of education and competency of graduates. Since graduates of medical education are directly involved with the health of society, the quality of this system is of high importance. Investigation in the lived experience of educational leaders in the medical education systems can help to promote its quality. The present research examines this issue in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was done using content-analysis qualitative approach and semi-structured interviews. The participants included 26 authorities including university chancellors and vice-chancellors, ministry heads and deputies, deans of medical and basic sciences departments, education expert, graduates, and students of medical fields. Sampling was done using purposive snowball method. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five main categories and 14 sub-categories were extracted from data analysis including: quantity-orientation, ambiguity in the trainings, unsuitable educational environment, personalization of the educational management, and ineffective interpersonal relationship. The final theme was identified as "Education in shadow".
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Personalization and inclusion of personal preferences in management styles, lack of suitable grounds, ambiguity in the structure and process of education has pushed medical education toward shadows and it is not the first priority; this can lead to incompetency of medical science graduates.
authors.affiliation: . kheirkhah.m@iums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Zohreh
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sohrabi
authors.forename: Masoomeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kheirkhah
authors.forename: Zohreh
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Vanaki
authors.forename: Kamran Soltani
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Arabshahi
authors.forename: Mohammad Mahdi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Farshad
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Farshad
authors.forename: Mansoureh Ashgale
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Farahani
mesh_terms: D004501:Education, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007492:Iran; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D036301:Qualitative Research