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Academic Excellence & Development Program (AEDP)

The AEDP Certificate is the premier faculty development program for KU School of Medicine.

To obtain a certificate, participants will need to complete four components: a core workshop, one elective per pillar (4 total), peer observation and an education project plan.

Print & Share Guide (PDF)

Certificate Requirements
Time Commitment Offered
~ 4 Consecutive Hours Live & On-Demand

Complete Core Workshop

A four-hour in-depth workshop designed to elevate your academic practice. Topics covered include:

  • Curriculum Design (Backward Design)
  • Feedback
  • Scholarship of Teaching & Learning
  • Structural Competency

Live (Synchronous Participation)

To view, register for, and add upcoming core workshops to your calendar, kindly log in to the School of Medicine Faculty Affairs & Development Events Calendar using your KUMC network credentials.

Calendar (Intranet)

On-Demand (Asynchronous Participation)

Coming soon


Additional Resource

Workshop Handout

Developing your Teaching Identity Handout.pdf

Time Commitment Offered
~ 4 Hours Total Live & On-Demand

Complete Four Electives – One in Each Pillar

Electives are organized into four distinct pillars, each representing a key area of faculty development:

  1. Teaching: Strengthen instructional techniques and educational strategies.
  2. Leading: Develop leadership skills for academic medicine and beyond. 
  3. Design: Innovate approaches to educational design and curriculum development.
  4. Engagement: Promoting inclusive excellence, flourishing, and a sense of belonging.

Choose How You Engage

We offer three flexible ways to participate: live, present, and on-demand at your convenience.

Live (Synchronous Participation)

Join real-time sessions to connect with presenters and peers in engaging formats such as webinars, workshops, and Q&A panels. You'll have the chance to ask questions, contribute to live activities, and participate in meaningful dialogue. Stay informed through our newsletters and register in advance via the School of Medicine Faculty Affairs & Development Events Calendar. Review events with '(AEDP Elective)' in the title and examine the description to determine which pillar(s) each event aligns with. Add sessions to your calendar to get reminders and ensure you never miss out.


Present

Have expertise in a topic that aligns with one or more of the pillars? Share your knowledge with your colleagues! Contact Program Manager Heather Rissler, PhD, EdD, to propose a session and explore presentation opportunities.


On-Demand (Asynchronous Participation)

Access our event recordings anytime, anywhere. Our on-demand library makes it easy to fit professional development into your schedule. Visit our Recordings website for instant access. Click on 'Details' in the left-hand menu to view the event description and identify which pillar(s) it aligns with. After watching, complete the discussion activity (found in the left-hand menu) by sharing 1–3 actionable takeaways or behavior changes you plan to implement. Submit your response to receive credit.

Example of How to Meet the Electives Requirement

Some electives fall under more than one pillar; however, credit can only be applied to one pillar per session.

Electives Teaching Leading Design Engagement
Classroom Technology Tools

X

Using Affirming Language in the Clinical Space

X

Bystander Intervention Training

X

X

Introduction to Flipped Classroom

X

*Events not directly sponsored by Faculty Affairs and Development may also be considered. For instance, engaging in departmental training focused on faculty development could be deemed as an "alternative qualifying event" eligible for credit. However, credits from alternative qualifying events will only contribute to two out of the four elective pillars. If you attend such an event, please contact the Program Manager, Heather Rissler, PhD, EdD, to determine whether it aligns with the purpose and objectives of the AEDP.

Time Commitment Offered
~ 3 Hours Total Self-Paced

Complete Giving & Receiving Feedback

Engage in a reciprocal observation process where you and a partner observe and provide feedback on each other’s teaching. Observations can be conducted during a live lecture—either in person or via Zoom—or by reviewing a recorded lecture.


Paring Support

If you need assistance finding a partner for your peer observation, please contact the Program Manager, Heather Rissler, Ph.D, EdD.

Documentation

The observer, a faculty member providing feedback, completes a POP form and reviews their comments with their partner. Participants then switch roles to ensure each person has the opportunity to both observe and be observed.

POP Form REDCap

Tutorial

Coming soon

Time Commitment Offered
~ 3-5 Hours Total Self-Paced

Complete Educational Project Plan (EPP)

Develop a project plan with a specific goal or aim that relates to educating students or training faculty. The plan must have specific learning objectives, an educational format or strategy, a learner assessment, and a proposed implementation timeline. Implementing or completing the Educational Project is not required. Educational Project Plans are approved by the Program Manager, Heather Rissler, PhD, EdD.

Approved EPP Examples

Asynchronous Learning for Radiology Residents in Breast Imaging

Residents  |  An asynchronous curriculum was curated to support the enhancement of breast imaging skills in residents.

Brain Surgery: Then What?

M1 and M2 Undergraduate Medical Education (UME)  |  An immersive experience was developed to teach medical students on the rehabilitation and transition of care for patients with traumatic brain injury, using Situated Learning Theory. This approach allowed students to follow a patient through each stage of treatment.



The Feedback Loop:  Giving, Receiving, and Implementing Feedback Effectively

Graduate Students  |  A learning session was designed to help learners build skills in receiving and implementing feedback.


Documentation

EPP Form (WORD)

Tutorial

Coming soon

Join AEDP Community

Connect, Grow, and Elevate

Mark your calendars for an incredible opportunity you won’t want to miss! Whether you're a past member, a current participant, or simply curious to learn more, join this vibrant community—these events are designed for you. Connect, learn, and be inspired as we come together for an engaging experience filled with valuable insights and networking opportunities.

 

Sign Up Now!

Each meet-up will feature a different topic, so be sure to sign up for all sessions to get the full experience. To view, register for, and add upcoming meet-ups to your calendar, kindly log in to the School of Medicine Faculty Affairs & Development Events Calendar using your KUMC network credentials.

Q1

Topic: TBD

2026 Coming Soon

Zoom

Q2

The Power of Observations

Noon Wed, Jun 18

Zoom

Q3

Emerging Trends in Medical Education

Noon Wed, Sep 03

Zoom

Q4

Becoming a Reflective Educator

Noon Wed, Nov 12

Zoom

Frequently Asked Questions

The Academic Excellence and Development Program (AEDP) is the premier faculty development program offered by the Office of Faculty Affairs and Development in the School of Medicine. Offerings are sorted into four pillars, which ensure robust, comprehensive professional development opportunities for faculty throughout their careers.

Participants who complete these four components will receive an AEDP Certificate:

Four Components Time Commitment
1. Core Workshop ~4 Consecutive Hours
2. One Elective Per Pillar (4 Total) ~ 4 Hours Total
3. Peer Observation ~ 3 Hours Total
4. Educational Project Plan ~ 3-5 Hours Total

Our estimated time commitment is approximately 15-17 hours total, although that may vary depending on how long a participant spends writing an Educational Project Plan.

We encourage faculty to complete the certificate within 18 months. Extensions are available.

Yes. The AEDP Certificate is the premier faculty development program at KU School of Medicine. The pillar framework ensures that the program is versatile, comprehensive and well-balanced. The certificate is a tangible indicator of a participant’s commitment not only to professional development but to teaching development in particular.

Absolutely! Participants should note all the electives they take, and the certificate if one is awarded. The School of Medicine Faculty Affairs and Development (FAD) Office maintains participation records. If you’re unsure about which electives you took in a given year, you can always ask us!


LOG IN TO FACT

Participants who complete certification should note it on their curriculum vitae (CV). Here’s an example of how to do this:

10/2022 – Awarded AEDP Certificate

LOG IN TO FACT

School of Medicine faculty are invited to participate in events and training sessions, even if they are not pursuing the AEDP Certificate. Our programming is focused on the needs and interests of School of Medicine faculty, but School of Nursing and School of Health Professions faculty can participate, as well as KU Medical Center staff.

Yes! The vast majority of our programming is presented by KU Medical Center faculty and staff. If there’s a topic you have the expertise to share with other faculty, please do! Reach out to the Program Manager, Heather Rissler, PhD, EdD, to discuss your topic.

Yes! We strive to make our programming suit our faculty’s needs. Chances are if you’re interested in learning about something, so are others. Please email the Program Manager, Heather Rissler, PhD, EdD, with suggestions and we’ll discuss how to make it happen.

Questions

For questions or status of where you are at in the program, please contact the Program Manager, Heather Rissler, PhD, EdD.

KU School of Medicine

University of Kansas Medical Center
Faculty Affairs and Development (FAD)
School of Medicine
Mail Stop 1049
3901 Rainbow Blvd.
Kansas City, KS 66160-1049