The Office for Faculty Affairs and Continuing Professional Development is excited to launch the fourth cohort of the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Educator Academy for the 2026–2027 academic year.
What Is the Educator Academy?
The Educator Academy (EA) is designed to create a community of practice among both faculty and staff who identify as educators in a Plan-Learn-Reflect-Respond cohort model. Our aim is to develop educators who are focused on collaborative lifelong learning and continuous improvement of their teaching practice.
Who Is the Educator Academy For?
The Educator Academy is for any faculty or staff member at the WSU College of Medicine who self-identifies as an educator and is motivated to help elevate the overall educational experience at the college. It is focused on skill building in evidence-based teaching, assessment, and evaluation. The academy is open to all seasoned and novice educators (and everyone in between) at the college.
Cohort Selection
We have an enthusiastic advisory group of faculty and staff who will help to select this year’s cohort. Our advisory group is made up of our wonderful colleagues, as well as graduates from the prior EA cohorts. Our past cohorts have provided feedback that informs how we grow and build the academy over the coming years.
Time Commitment
The Educator Academy cohort will meet five times between September and June. Each session is 90 minutes long and will be held during business hours. Sessions with be held in Spokane with both in-person and Zoom options, allowing participation from wherever you may be.
Once the cohort is selected, we will schedule the sessions based on the cohort members’ availability. We do our best to select session days and times that work for the majority of the cohort. We expect the cohort to participate in all sessions but understand that life happens and hope you will work with us to stay connected and engaged.
Apply
View the online application form to learn more and apply. This application cycle will remain open until May 1, 2026, for an anticipated cohort start date in September 2026.
If you have questions not answered above or in the application form, please reach out to us at medicine.faculty.development@wsu.edu.
Testimonials
The Educator Academy created a dedicated time and space to think of ways to improve or optimize our specific area of focus. We shared ideas, received constructive feedback, and developed actionable steps to implement our projects.
Stacey Ostrin, MD, CAQSM, written assessment pillar lead
The entire Educator Academy experience was top-notch. It was flexible enough that I could easily incorporate it into my existing workload, and it provided both the push and the resources to develop advanced skills. I loved learning alongside colleagues from all across the College of Medicine, and I look forward to the extended network of peers I can collaborate with in new and exciting ways.
Jade Stellmon, clinical and rural partnerships administrator
The Educator Academy has helped me enhance my teaching skills with others in a supportive and diverse environment.
Dawn Kopp, MD, MPH, vice chair, obstetrics and gynecology
The Educator Academy came at a meaningful point in my career. After years of teaching in a different field, I was navigating how to apply that experience in my new role here at the College of Medicine. The Academy gave me space to reflect, reconnect with my educator identity, and explore new ways to support our medical students. As someone still fairly new to the college, it also helped me feel more connected to the broader academic community and better understand how colleagues across the college support our students.
Heidi Doolittle, learning specialist