If you’re passionate about empowering others through education and eager to advance your career, the ASPET PRIME-Educator Certificate Program is your next step. Here’s why:
- Build a strong foundation in educational theories and innovative teaching practices
- Develop hands-on skills in course design, syllabus development, and active learning strategies
- Gain confidence in delivering impactful presentations and facilitating engaging learning experiences
- Design meaningful assessments that truly measure and enhance student success
- Launch and present education research projects that make a real contribution to the field
- Strengthen and sustain mentoring relationships that support your ongoing professional growth
- Connect and collaborate with a national community of peers and mentors
- Learn directly from nationally recognized experts in health professions education
The PRIME-Educator Certificate Program is a five-month, fully online series of two-hour live, interactive modules. Covering key topics from learning theories and course design to assessment, educational research, and mentoring,
the program combines expert instruction, peer collaboration, and practical assignments culminating in a capstone portfolio. This program will be delivered using active learning instructional methods, leveraging both synchronous (live webinars)
and asynchronous (self-paced) setups. Facilitators will assign pre-reading materials to support participant preparation. Additionally, group discussions and collaborative activities will take place on the ASPETConnect platform to encourage
continuous and dynamic interaction among participants.
Graduate students, postdoctoral scientists, and faculty may apply. This program is open to both ASPET members and non-members. There is no fee to apply, but if you are selected to participate the course fee for members is $200 and for non-members
it is $450. If you would like to join ASPET to take advantage of the discount and other member benefits, please visit the membership application page here.
The PRIME-Educator Certificate Program, an initiative of the ASPET Division for Pharmacology Education, was conceived and developed by Khalil Eldeeb, MBBCh, MSc, PhD, FAAPE and Sandeep Bansal, MBBS, MD, MBA,
who serve as course directors. Dr. Eldeeb is Professor of Foundational Sciences, Pharmacology at Methodist University-Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine. Dr. Bansal is Professor in the Department
of Medical Education at the Burnett School of Medicine, Texas Christian University. The program is delivered in partnership with a diverse team of contributing instructors and facilitators.
Course Orientation Session
Monday, September 22 |12-1 PM EST
Module 1: Foundations of Learning Theories and Course/Curriculum Design
Thursday, September 25, 2025 | 3–5 PM EST
- Elizabeth G. Armstrong, PhD
Professor of Pediatrics and Physical Therapy, Harvard Medical School / Boston Children’s Hospital
Founding Director, Harvard Macy Institute (Emerita) - Holly Gooding, MD, MSc
Associate Dean of Professional Development and Education, Emory University School of Medicine
Course Director, Harvard Macy Institute Program for Educators in Health Care Professions
Module 2: Syllabus Development and Active Learning Methods
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 | 3–5 PM EST
- Traci Wolbrink, MD, MPH
Co-Director, OPENPediatrics
Director of Education, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital
Associate Professor in Anesthesia,
Harvard Medical School
- Elissa Hall, EdD, MA
Director, Learning and Technology Innovation
Associate Director, Education Science, Mayo Clinic
- Kelsey Miller, MD, EdM
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate Director for Scholarship, Boston Children’s Hospital Academy
Module 3: Assessments
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 | 3-5 PM EST
- Adrienne Z. Ables, PharmD, MS
Associate Dean of Basic Medical Sciences, Orange Park
Professor of Pharmacology, DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
National Faculty Chair, Pharmacology Division, NBOME
- Miguel A. Paniagua, MD, FACP, FAAHPM, FCPP
Vice President of Medical Education, American College of Physicians (ACP)
- Anastasiya A. Lipnevich, PhD
Professor of Educational Psychology, Queens College and The Graduate Center, City University of New York
Module 4: Education Research
Monday, January 26, 2026 | 2–4 PM EST
- Jean M. Bailey, PhD
Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Chair, AAMC Medical Education Research Certificate (MERC) Program Steering Committee
- Kathryn N. Huggett, PhD
Director, The Teaching Academy
Robert Larner, M.D. ’42 Professor in Medical Education
Assistant Dean for Medical Education, The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at The
University of Vermont
(Also faculty for the MERC program)
Module 5: Mentoring in Academic and Professional Settings
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 | 2-4 PM EST
- Alice Fornari, EdD, RDN, FAMEE, HEC-C, ACC/ICF
Professor, Science Education & Family Medicine
Vice President, Faculty Development, Northwell Health
Associate Dean, Educational Skills, Donald and Barbara
Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
Director, IAMSE Mentoring Program (IM-REACH)
- John L. Szarek, BPharm, PhD, CHSE
Vice Chair of Curriculum Education
Director for Simulation, Professor and Director of Clinical Pharmacology
Department of Medical Education Research & Scholarship, Geisinger
Commonwealth School of Medicine
After completing this program, participants should be able to:
- Understand and explain key learning theories and their application in health professions education
- Develop effective course objectives and outcomes
- Design a course structure that aligns with learning objectives and outcomes
- Create comprehensive and engaging syllabi
- Implement active learning strategies in their teaching
- Understand the principles of assessment
- Develop formative and summative assessments
- Utilize best practices for test item writing
- Interpret test assessment reports
- Use assessment outcomes to inform curriculum quality improvement
- Understand the basics of educational research
- Develop an educational research proposal
- Develop strategies to establish and maintain successful mentoring relationships
- Apply mentoring techniques to support student success, career progression and personal growth
Participants are required to attend all scheduled live sessions, actively participate in discussions, submit assignments by the designated deadlines, and respond to evaluation surveys. Adherence to the ASPET Code of Conduct is expected throughout the program to maintain a respectful and professional learning environment. Upon successfully fulfilling
all program requirements, participants will be awarded a certificate of completion. This certificate acknowledges their dedication to advancing their skills in education and educational research and mentoring as well as their commitment
to excellence in the field.
Applicants will use ASPET’s Awards Portal to submit their Letter of Interest, Curriculum Vitae, and Letter of Support. Please log in to the portal using the “Enter Now” button on this page. All applications are due by Thursday, August 14, 11:59 PM ET.
Please direct any questions about this program to awards@aspet.org.