Services for Educators & Universities-Designing Significant Learning Experiences
"Education is not the learning of the facts, but the training of the mind to think." - Albert Einstein
​
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to higher-education. Universities are forced to anticipate and adapt to an uncertain "new normal." Some of the most significant reported challenges from universities are:
​
-
Pedagogical challenge: The shift to online learning has amplified strains on universities, students, and faculty. Striking the right balance between stability and dynamism in course-design, content-management, program-delivery, and digital-platform support is of paramount importance.
​
-
Student experience: 75% of college students have expressed some dissatisfaction with current virtual learning practices and curriculum. In addition to this, students have begun to critically question the opportunity cost of attending college, especially in the face of an uncertain future. 51% of college students responded that they value social and highly involved learning processes.
​
-
Financial strain: 30% of revenue for universities comes from student tuition. Currently, 86% of college presidents put student enrollment numbers as the top pressing issue in addition to other financial challenges.
​
Medical education with a high level of in-person components such as content knowledge, clinical shadowing, and internships, has also been significantly disrupted.
​
Leveraging over two decades of experience as an academic and a practicing physician, I have developed the Integrated Significant Learning Experience (ISLE) pedagogical model. The ISLE pedagogical model provides learners an innovative epistemological framework that is deeply rooted in an integrated approach to content, process, and context, leading to a significant learning experience.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
I have applied the ISLE pedagogical model in offering the HOPE Healthcare Leadership Internship Course to aspiring physicians to create a meaningful internship, observership, and shadowing experience.
​
Students benefit from a highly engaging curriculum utilizing interpersonal communication, introspective reflection, and scenario-based learning all while maintaining joy and ease as they pursue their purpose and passion.
​
The course leverages digital platforms while maintaining the importance of human connection to simulate the valuable in-person experience.
​
Some of the key principles of this course are:
​
-
The human connection should not be lost in the digital evolutionary process.
-
Striking the right balance between stability and dynamism in incorporating enterprising and innovative solutions in significant learning experiences.
-
Developing empathetic, competent, and best in class physicians, will have a positive impact on their personal and professional development as well as the greater society.
​
The HOPE Healthcare Leadership Internship Course is an invaluable and practical educational asset for students, educators, and institutions.
​
Many students have already attested to the transformative impact the course has had on them.
​
Testimonials-
​
"Overall, I feel I have come out of this course with a greater understanding of the field of healthcare and of navigating the journey to becoming a physician. While most observership opportunities such as this focus solely on the practical aspects of getting into med-school and medicine as a whole, this program addressed the human element in a nuanced way. Climbing the academic/professional ladder can be a daunting task; and making sure to tackle the emotional toll of undergrad, the application process, medical school, and beyond is paramount to thriving in such a demanding environment...I built a newfound appreciation for medicine and was enlightened to what the field is truly like. Each session had guests that brought fresh new perspectives to the table and facilitated thought provoking discussion that I will keep for a lifetime. These discussions were also fueled by the engaging, practical advice like how to deal with the medical school application process, medical school itself, and learning how to thrive as a physician as well as those that give attention to the building up the mental/personal willpower to make it through such an arduous journey. This dichotomy allowed me to grow on both fronts as a student and individual. Ultimately, I am grateful for this experience and would strongly recommend any pre-health student to take part in this program."
-
S.I., University of Houston '22, Finance with Pre-Med track/Biology Minor
​
​
"Being part of the HOPE Healthcare observership, I was able to accumulate a significant amount of knowledge regarding various topics related to medicine. Along with providing the participants an opportunity to learn about the application process for medical school, the course further encouraged us to experience the journey after getting into medical school by listening to the amazing guest speakers. All the sessions conveyed essential information that helped me appreciate the critical role of healthcare providers in different settings. Several sessions served as a motivational guide, as we were encouraged to reflect on ourselves by thinking about our strengths. Personally, talking about my former experiences and listening to the rest of the group assisted me in realizing that our past experiences have aided us to grow into the person we are today. Talking to the speakers from across the globe with different backgrounds was definitely a highlight of this course as I was able to recognize the importance of diversity of education and different experiences in healthcare. Overall, the sessions were extremely informative as they covered different aspects of medicine. Thanks a lot to Dr. Iqbal for taking the time to create an extremely educational and enlightening virtual observership."
-
F.B., University of California Davis, Master's in Health Informatics
