M.D. Program

I-EXPLORE Conference 2026

The 2026 I-EXPLORE Conference took place Wednesday, May 13. The Committee on Educational Policy (CEP) and the Office of Medical Education (OME) thank all the attendees for their engagement in the conference sessions which included I-EXPLORE Fundamentals, Competent AND Adaptive: The Master Adaptive Learner, the keynote, and Measuring What Matters in Medical Education.

The I-EXPLORE Achievement Awards for AY25-26 were presented and the faculty recipients were:

  • Ho Phan, M.D., F.A.C.S., for Integration and Collaboration. Surgeon Phan was lauded specifically for regularly seeking to mesh his expertise with that of other faculty collaborators in creating and delivering well-integrated sessions, as well as actively soliciting and welcoming multiple stakeholders in combined efforts.
  • Cara Sandholdt, Ph.D., for Exploration and Innovation. Professor Sandholdt was commended specifically for placing significant effort in the development and utilization of new teaching pedagogies and approaches to student learning.
  • Shubha Ananthakrishnan, M.D., for Patient-Oriented Education. Nephrologist Ananthakrishnan was praised for prioritizing the understanding of human health and disease through the whole patient perspective and incorporating principles of health systems science and health equity in curricular content.
  • Archana Reddy, M.D., for Learner-Oriented Education. Internist Reddy was celebrated for efficient sessions that address student needs and preferences, regularly soliciting and incorporating student feedback, and minimizing extraneous cognitive load for students.

The OME staff recipients were:

  • Heidi van Beek, M.A., for Collaboration and Innovation. Analyst van Beek is applauded for regularly seeking to mesh her expertise and experience with staff and faculty stakeholders across units and departments to collaborate in curriculum delivery and student support, placing significant effort in the development and utilization of new or revised approaches to curriculum needs. 
  • Alfonz Suguitan, for Learner-Oriented Education. Curriculum Coordinator Suguitan is praised for his exemplary skills in improving the student experience.

CEP and OME look forward to seeing you at the next conference in 2027!

I-EXPLORE Achievement Awards

The I-EXPLORE (Integrated EXplorative Patient and Learner ORiented Education) Achievement Awards began in Spring 2023. All faculty who participate in I-EXPLORE are eligible for the Achievement Awards. Annually, the Achievement Award nomination form is sent to all I-EXPLORE funded faculty (e.g., Course Directors, Discipline Leaders, etc.). The recipients are selected by Committee on Educational Policy (CEP) Chair and the Associate Dean for Curriculum and Medical Education. The list of award recipients is located on the Faculty Executive Committee webpage, available via this link.