The state of medical education research in Anesthesiology: Current landscape and future directions – An initiative of the Anesthesia Research Council

Without strategic intervention to support medical education research in anesthesiology, the training of future anesthesiologists may be compromised. As a result, the Anesthesia Research Council convened a working group of education leaders and charged them with mapping the future of education research in anesthesiology. At present, no comprehensive strategy exists for developing education research into a robust and self-sustaining discipline within anesthesiology. Few anesthesiologists are qualified to mentor the next generation of rigorous researchers in education who will advance both the theory and practice of medical education in our specialty and throughout medicine. This working group sought to understand the current state of anesthesiology education research funding and to identify key initiatives to consider in generating research excellence in this field. This paper explores three key aspects of developing a path forward for medical education research; understanding the current state of anesthesiology education research funding and publications as markers of impact; integrating educational frameworks that support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to ensure that anesthesiology training reflects the diverse needs of learners and patients; and recommendations for improving medical education research in anesthesiology to help democratize the resources necessary for research, cultivate collaboration, and advance faculty development. A qualitative thematic analysis of relevant literature was completed. Recommendations for expanding the current education frameworks, measures and methods include addressing: (1) Diversifying the Physician Workforce (2) Teaching Styles and Learning Environments (3) Quality and Accountability of Graduate Medical Education; (4) Cultural Competency and Intersectionality; (5) Advocacy. Identifying high priority, immediate and future actions that key stakeholders should undertake to generate centers of excellence and establish early career development programs in medical education research will likely have a national impact in anesthesiology and in medicine.