recommendations to guide vice chairs for education in serving as effective leaders

Background: vice chairs for education play an increasingly important role in academicmedicine. they often serve in supportive roles overseeing educational initiatives andfaculty development, ensuring that education remains prioritized. literature in this area islimited, especially in obstetrics and gynecology. prior literature has not been sufficientlydirective in identifying best practices in role, mission, and scope for vice chairs foreducation.methods: we developed and facilitated a workshop at the association of professorsof gynecology and obstetrics - council on resident education in obstetrics andgynecology (apgo-creog) annual meeting in february 2020. we brought togethera national group of medical education faculty to elucidate the role of vice chairs andoffer recommendations. after utilizing a previously described technique for gathering andreporting group recommendations, notes from small- and large-group discussions werecollated, coded, and collapsed.results: four broad recommendations resulted. first, role clarity must be ensured, ideallywith co-developed guidelines for responsibility. second, the vice chair for educationshould be charged with identifying departmental educational initiatives, includingfaculty development, utilizing best educational practices. third, vice chairs for educationshould implement and evaluate educational initiatives to enhance faculty well-being andpromote a robust clinical learning environment. finally, they should integrate with othervice chairs for education within their institution and as part of national organizations tocollaborate and develop best practices.conclusion: these serve as guidelines to establish success and increase impact and suggestthe potential for a national body of vice chairs for education leaders to improve local andnational educational outcomes.