Must Reads
What is a ‘Must Read’ for those interested in medical education?
Each month, we identify 3-4 noteworthy articles from the health professions education literature and label them as “must reads.” Selection is based on several criteria including originality and methodological rigor. Our process includes a formal search of the peer-reviewed literature, screening titles and abstracts, full text review, and an editorial meeting to achieve consensus.
Who are we and why are we doing this?
Our reviewers include individuals with expertise in teaching, educational oversight, and research as well as those who are beginning their careers as educational scholars.
The volume of health professions education articles has become overwhelming. In curating some of the best new published papers, we hope to make it easier for all of us to keep abreast of cutting edge educational scholarship and practices.
We’d welcome involvement in the selection process. Reviewers can earn CME credit and contribute to Must Reads research. If you are interested in supporting this work or have perspectives to share, please email Sean Tackett: stacket1@jhmi.edu.
You can also follow @MedEdMustReads on X (aka Twitter) to be notified when new must read articles are selected and sign up to receive an email each month.
(Current Reviewers: Kara Alcegueire, Paul Bain, Suni Ebby, Vyasa Hari, Scott Kinkade, Pranav Kotamraju, Viviane Liao, Liju Mathew, Milad Memari, Amin Nakhostin-Ansari, Ashley Paul, Julianne Perretta, Katherine Senko, Julia Shalen, Grace Suh, Sean Tackett, Scott Wright, Tony Zhu)
Featured This Month

The Gist
• Suggests that “little stories” of everyday struggles, collaborations, and successes should be incorporated throughout medical education.
Why This is a Must Read
Medicine is amazing most often in small ways. Sharing stories of daily experiences can recognize the significance in the ordinary and help see imperfections as opportunities for learning.

The Gist
• Research activity increased during the period, with the greatest increases for the most competitive specialties.
Why This is a Must Read
Most practicing physicians do not do research. This article shows that medical students are spending more time and effort in research activities without a clear benefit to their clinical skills.

The Gist
• Reported 3 themes: (1) challenging and supporting learners, (2) valuing learners as part of the team, and (3) showing enthusiasm for teaching and patient care.
Why This is a Must Read
Much has been written about great teaching, but it remains easier said than done. This article provides concrete examples and recommendations rooted in student experiences that can guide improvement.
Featured

The Gist
• Compares 5 strategies: (1) principled negotiation, (2) appreciative inquiry, (3) restorative justice, (4) engaging learners as leaders, and (5) applying principles of professional resistance.
Why This is a Must Read

The Gist
• Summarizes 6 content areas and 5 educational methods from published studies.
Why This is a Must Read

The Gist
• Outlines the processes and outcomes of 4 workshops and suggests 5 principles for educational co-production with patients, educators, and students.
Why This is a Must Read

The Gist
• Describes 4 problems created by focusing on wellness - (1) creates work-life antagonism, (2) encourages avoidance of adversity, (3) ignores moral dimensions, and (4) overemphasizes individuals over communities - which could be addressed by more holistic thinking.
Why This is a Must Read

The Gist
• Students used P&C effectively in simulated scenarios and began using it in new contexts.
Why This is a Must Read

The Gist
• Provides historical context and compares (1) fairness, (2) inclusion, and (3) justice orientations, then suggests future directions.