Advances in Medical Education

A special issue of Education Sciences (ISSN 2227-7102).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2026 | Viewed by 1675

Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G5, Canada
Interests: medical education; inclusion of cultural competency; educational intervention

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As medical education moves beyond traditional didactic models, the focus has shifted toward creating dynamic, inclusive and technologically rich learning environments. In a period where clinical knowledge doubles every few months, the challenge for both academia and practice is to move beyond traditional teaching approaches, toward fostering innovations that are engaging educational interventions with a focus on cultural humility for the next generation of medical learners.

This transformation is timely and required; as healthcare systems become more complex and patient populations more diverse, educational environments must adapt to disrupt systemic biases while leveraging novel technological innovation. This Special Issue aims to present and disseminate the most recent advances related to transformative pedagogical approaches and inclusive learning pedagogies. We consider contributions addressing the intersection of high-tech instructional tools and the human-centric values of equity and diversity. By including these themes, this issue provides a critical lens on how innovation can serve as a vital element for both clinical excellence and social equity, ensuring that the future of medical education is as diverse as the communities it serves. This Special Issue, “Advances in Medical Education,” is a collection of pioneering research and theoretical frameworks that addresses the critical challenges of training the next generation of medical doctors and health professionals.

Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Innovative Pedagogical Approaches:Implementation of digitally adaptive learning, gamification and high-fidelity simulation in clinical reasoning.
  2. Inclusive Learning Environments: Strategies for integrating EDI (equity, diversity and inclusion) into curricula and mitigating bias in medical assessment.

Dr. Marghalara Rashid
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • medical pedagogy
  • learning environments
  • educational technology in medical education
  • equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI)
  • clinical reasoning
  • innovative teaching approaches
  • digital pedagogy

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 328 KB  
Article
Impact of Peer-Assisted Learning in Histology and Embryology of a Medical Course: A Mixed-Methods Study
by Rita Abreu Russo, Bruno Daniel Carneiro and Isaura Tavares
Educ. Sci. 2026, 16(7), 1093; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16071093 - 8 Jul 2026
Viewed by 1018
Abstract
Background: Peer-assisted learning (PAL) is used in medical education. Its impact in basic medical sciences remains unexplored, namely considering the perspectives of all the populations involved: students, undergraduate teaching assistants (UTAs), and faculty members. We evaluated the educational impact of a PAL [...] Read more.
Background: Peer-assisted learning (PAL) is used in medical education. Its impact in basic medical sciences remains unexplored, namely considering the perspectives of all the populations involved: students, undergraduate teaching assistants (UTAs), and faculty members. We evaluated the educational impact of a PAL programme in Histology and Embryology in a medical course at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP). Methods: A cross-sectional convergent mixed-methods study was conducted in the Histology and Embryology course. Tailored online questionnaires comprising Likert-type items and open-ended questions were replied to by students attending theoretical–practical classes with UTAs, the UTAs, and the professors. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Students’ theoretical–practical examination scores were compared between classes with and without UTAs using the Mann–Whitney U test, and effect size (r) was calculated to estimate the magnitude of differences observed. Results: Students (n = 190) reported highly positive perceptions regarding the creation of a more approachable learning environment, clarification of doubts, and identification of histological structures and strongly recommended the extension of UTAs to other courses of the medical school. UTAs (n = 17) described gains in disciplinary understanding, broader perspectives on the medical curriculum, communication and public-speaking skills, teamwork, leadership, self-confidence, and interest in academic careers. Professors (n = 6) valued PAL for improving individual support, facilitating time management, and contributing to UTA training, while highlighting the need for structured pedagogical preparation. Students attending classes with UTAs achieved significantly higher theoretical–practical examination scores (p = 0.04; effect size r = 0.12). Conclusions: PAL was perceived as highly beneficial by all groups involved in the project, enhancing the learning environment, supporting knowledge consolidation, and developing pedagogical and interpersonal skills. A grade analysis indicated that PAL was associated with improved academic performance. These findings reinforce the value of integrating PAL initiatives into preclinical medical education while highlighting the importance of sustained tutor preparation and supervision. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Medical Education)

Other

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9 pages, 193 KB  
Opinion
Positionality Statements in Health Professions Education: A Practical Guide for Novice Researchers
by Ida John and Marghalara Rashid
Educ. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1247; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16081247 - 6 Aug 2026
Viewed by 200
Abstract
Positionality refers to a researcher’s stance within the social context of their research study. It can include information such as gender, race and class, and other characteristics like location. In addition, positionality statements can also include researchers’ personal traits, such as their thoughts, [...] Read more.
Positionality refers to a researcher’s stance within the social context of their research study. It can include information such as gender, race and class, and other characteristics like location. In addition, positionality statements can also include researchers’ personal traits, such as their thoughts, feelings and behaviors. They convey a researcher’s position and are incorporated within research articles to make readers aware of the beliefs and assumptions that a scholar may be bringing into the study. Describing one’s positionality can be particularly beneficial within health professions education (HPE) research, where complex power dynamics often exist between the researcher and participants. However, there is currently limited literature on how positionality statements should be written for HPE research. This paper aims to present an introductory guide on how a novice researcher can write a positionality statement within HPE research, including elements such as reflexivity, location and context, power dynamics, and insider–outsider positioning, as well as the potential risks tied to positionality statements. Additionally, this paper provides readers with a practical step-by-step guide and a real-life example to follow when developing their own positionality statement. By practicing reflexivity and considering how their location and presence impact the research process and participants, a scholar can articulate how their identity and context shape their research approach. Consequently, adding a positionality statement can increase trustworthiness and enhance transparency of a study when they are reflexive, context-specific, ethically constructed and integrated into the research process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Medical Education)
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