University of Illinois at Chicago - College of Medicine

Greetings from the Head

The Department of Medical Education (DME) is a unit of the College of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Established in 1959, it is nationally and internationally recognized for pioneering work in health professions education and research. The Department offers courses and programs to meet the needs of today's health professional, including graduate and continuing medical education.  Our new certificate program for clinical program directors offers an exciting opportunity for clinical program directors to enhance their educational leadership and managerial skills. Please see "Educational Programs" for more information on this and our other outstanding programs.

Founded more than 50 years ago, DME is the oldest continuously operating unit of its kind in the world.  The World Health Organization has designated DME as a collaborating center for education with emphasis on leadership development. National and international fellowships of interest to health professionals from all over the world are available in areas such as medical education, health systems research, and bioethics.

Ilene Harris, PhD
Professor and Head

AERA Distinguished Career Award

The UIC Department of Medical Education in the College of Medicine is proud to announce that DME Department Head, Professor Ilene B. Harris, is the recipient of the Distinguished Career Award from the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Division of Education in the Professions  (Division I).

This award is given every other year to recognize individuals who "over a significant number of years, have been exceptionally productive scholars in professions education" and who have had a "significant impact on the field of research in the professions."  The presenter of the award commented, "The breadth and depth of her research, her teaching and mentoring, and her contributions to capacity building, both locally and nationally, helped us to understand just why Division I has this award." and "Her contributions to Division I, and the impact that she has on the field overall, make her an ideal candidate for the Distinguished Career Award.  One cannot mention qualitative research and curriculum studies without referring to Dr. Harris’ scholarly work. Her involvement in Division I began over 30 years ago.   She chaired the Nominations Committee (1981-82) and then became secretary of Division I (1986-88) and chaired the History committee (1986-89).  In the nineties, she co-chaired (1993) and chaired (1994) the Division’s annual program committee, and then became President of the Division and an AERA Vice-President in 1995."