SOAR Scholar Program

About the Strengthening Outcomes and Assessments in Residency Visiting Scholar Program

SOAR is sponsoring a visiting scholar program at the American Board of Family Medicine and AFMRD. Visiting scholars study the relationship between residency outcomes and education/care delivery/workforce development best practices of family medicine residencies. They also get aid from subject matter experts to propose research questions, analyze residency outcome data, and craft research manuscripts for publication and/or presentation.

The ABFM Foundation provides funding for scholars to visit ABFM for a week-long immersion experience while the AFMRD provides funding to the SOAR Scholar to present their research at the AAFP Residency Leadership Summit or a similar venue.

Applicants should submit a Letter of Interest, Letter of support and CV by April 23, 2025. Scholars will be notified of acceptance within 6 weeks. The scholar program runs from June through May of each year.  

Visiting Scholar Requirements

Eligible applicants must be a Program Director or Associate Program Director with an active AFMRD membership.

  • Scholars must make a commitment to be in residence at the ABFM in Lexington, KY for 5 consecutive business days (dates are flexible, based on mutual agreement between the scholar and ABFM staff) within 4 months of acceptance.
  • Scholars must participate in a virtual orientation with ABFM staff within 4 weeks of acceptance as well as virtual updates with ABFM staff monthly and communicate periodically with ABFM staff and mentors via conference call, email, or in-person meetings.
  • Scholars are expected to complete their data analysis within 12 months of beginning the program and present their research within 18-24 months of beginning the program.

Note: Travel and lodging expenses will be reimbursed up to $1,200 per meeting, per AFMRD policy. No per diem or family travel expenses are allowed.

Apply

Application Criteria

  1. SOAR Scholars must be a program director or associate program director
  2. SOAR Scholars must be active AFMRD members

Application Materials

  1. A letter of interest (no more than 500 words), detailing
    1. How SOAR scholarship will advance your professional development
    2. Your prior research, publication, or presentation experience, particularly in outcomes-based assessment in graduate medical education
    3. Two or three research questions regarding outcomes or assessments in family medicine residency training that you would potentially answer during a SOAR scholarship AND
  2. A letter of support from your Program Director, Department Chair, Designated Institutional Official, or Graduate Medical Education Chair in support of your visiting scholarship, acknowledging time needed away from the program for residence in Lexington, KY and protected time for project work at your home institution.

Selection Process

ABFM Staff will review applications within 4 weeks of application cycle closure and confirm which applicants have submitted research questions that are appropriate to SOAR.

AFMRD Board of Directors will review those confirmed applications within 4-5 weeks of application cycle closure to select one SOAR scholar for the academic cycle.

Applicants should be notified of acceptance on or before May 30, 2025.

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