A Short History

Laying the foundation

The Fine Family Academy of Educators was created in January 2019.

Beginning 2016, Elza Mylona, PhD, MBA, engaged various EVMS stakeholders including institutional leaders, the Board of Visitors and others to explore the potential goals and benefits of an Academy. In November 2017, a broadly representative EVMS Academy of Educators task force was established.

The task force used a deliberate and thoughtful consultative process to create a best fit model for EVMS. This process included:

• A review of evidence-based literature focused on academy models at health professions education institutions
• Input from nationally recognized leaders of academies regarding design, implementation and best practices
• Two half-day Academy Design Retreats with task force members

The task force engaged EVMS faculty by visiting department faculty meetings to facilitate a transparent process of sharing information, seeking input and answering questions.

Their discussions and resulting insights have contributed to an academy model that fits EVMS best to advance and celebrate educational innovation, excellence, engagement and scholarship across the education and career continuum in the health professions. The task force was retired in December 2018.

Sheila Chauvin, PhD, MEd, Academy Development Consultant, has been instrumental in the academy’s formation. She designed and facilitated the Academy Design Retreats. At the retreats, important elements of the academy core purposes, values, mission and vision statements were discussed. In addition, the initial design was drafted for academy membership categories.

Dr. Chauvin created the first interprofessional health sciences, center-wide academy at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans in 2002. She is also highly experienced in developing and enhancing effective educator academies at many health professions education institutions across the United States.

Task force members