The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #40638

Robert B Lutz, MD, Susan E. South, MA, and Gates Matthew Stoner, MA. program in integrative medicine, University of Arizona, 1650 e ft. lowell, tucson, AZ 85719

Traditional educational formats are rapidly giving way to new methods of information delivery. The technological ability to provide learning opportunities to students separated by time and space has created a new approach to the delivery of knowledge. A significant challenge that confronts this methodology, however, is the impersonal nature of the learning environment. This may prevent the formation of a ‘community of learners.’ Therefore, to overcome this obstacle, creative and innovative means must be identified that create a sense of ‘belongingness.’ In this effort, the University of Arizona’s Program in Integrative Medicine created the Associate Fellowship program. Via distributed learning, physicians from around the country (and some international representatives) are brought together in a ‘virtual community of learners.’ A sense of community or ‘belongingness’ has been identified as essential for maintaining the cohesiveness of this group, as well as contributing to an overall 0% attrition rate after 1.5 years of delivery. Methods of creating community will be described, and applications to different content delivery will be discussed.

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