Duke Ob/Gyn introduced an innovative program, Forum Theater, to address learning environment challenges for health professions students through a total of four sessions funded by the Duke Academy of Health Professions Education and Academic Development (Duke AHEAD). The mission of Duke AHEAD is to promote excellence in the education of health professionals by creating an enterprise-wide community of education scholars, fostering innovation in health professions education, supporting outstanding teachers, providing faculty development programs, and facilitating quality education research. During Forum Theater, spectators have opportunities to express opinions and make decisions while actors incorporate suggestions, re-playing scenes with varying outcomes. The technique has been used for medical faculty development, and to improve teaching interactions and outcomes.
Approval was received for the program by application authors Nancy Knudsen, MD; Lisa Muasher, MD, Associate Residency Program Director; Elizabeth Livingston, MD; Benjamin Harris, MD, MPH; and Jade Arnold, former Undergraduate Medical Education Coordinator.