title: The Teachers of Quality Academy: A Learning Community Approach to Preparing Faculty to Teach Health Systems Science.
abstract: Although efforts to integrate health systems science (HSS) topics, such as patient safety, quality improvement (QI), interprofessionalism, and population health, into health professions curricula are increasing, the rate of change has been slow.
  
  
  
  The Teachers of Quality Academy (TQA), Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, was established in January 2014 with the dual goal of preparing faculty to lead frontline clinical transformation while becoming proficient in the pedagogy and curriculum design necessary to prepare students in HSS competencies. The TQA included the completion of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Open School Basic Certificate in Quality and Safety; participation in six 2-day learning sessions on key HSS topics; completion of a QI project; and participation in three online graduate courses.
  
  
  
  Twenty-seven faculty from four health science programs completed the program. All completed their QI projects. Nineteen (70%) have been formally engaged in the design and delivery of the medical student curriculum in HSS. Early into their training, TQA participants began to apply new knowledge and skills in HSS to the development of educational initiatives beyond the medical student curriculum.
  
  
  
  Important next steps for TQA participants and program planners include further incorporation as faculty advisors and contributors to the full implementation of the longitudinal HSS curriculum; expanded involvement with the Leaders in Innovative Care Scholars student leadership distinction track; continued in-depth evaluation of the impact of TQA participation on patient care, teaching, and role modeling; and the recruitment of the next cohort of TQA participants.
authors.affiliation: E.G. Baxley is senior associate dean for academic affairs and professor of family medicine, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina. L. Lawson is assistant dean of curriculum, assessment, and clinical academic affairs and assistant professor of emergency medicine, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina. H.G. Garrison is associate dean for graduate medical education and professor of emergency medicine, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina. D. Walsh is associate professor of surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina. S. Lazorick is associate professor of pediatrics and public health and health services researcher, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina. D. Lake is clinical associate professor of nursing, Graduate Nursing Sciences and Leadership Concentration, East Carolina University College of Nursing, Greenville, North Carolina. J. Higginson is associate professor of pediatrics and chief, Division of Neonatology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Elizabeth G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Baxley
authors.forename: Luan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.forename: Herbert G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Garrison
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lazorick
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lake
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Higginson
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000592:standards*; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards*; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000592:standards*; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D061214:Patient Safety / Q000592:standards; D000075485:Population Health; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000592:standards*