The Medical Education Senior Leaders (MESL) is an AAMC-convened community whose focus is the continuing improvement of education in the nation's medical schools. As a forum for the senior member of the dean’s staff with oversight for education in medical schools, MESL identifies issues affecting the educational mission and develops strategies to support excellence.
Upcoming Events
2025 Medical Education Senior Leaders (MESL) Annual Meeting
January 30-31, 2025
AAMC Learning Center, Washington, DC
Learn more about the meeting
Learn Serve Lead 2025: The AAMC Annual Meeting
November 1-5, 2025
San Antonio, Texas
About MESL
Established in 2019, MESL is an AAMC-convened community comprised of 175 members, uniquely positioned to address challenges within the medical education mission of academic medicine. The community’s goal is to create a collaborative and supportive space for those charged with leading the educational mission at medical schools and, in the process, work together to address issues of national importance, ultimately improving medical education regionally, nationally, and beyond. This group of medical education leaders provides the expertise essential to building a better future for healthcare.
MESL was established to:
- Provide a forum for networking about common challenges and imperatives;
- Generate and serve as a resource for members about best practices in medical education;
- Foster collaborative mentorship between and among members; and
- Work bidirectionally with AAMC staff to advance resources and information to members on these issues.
Membership
Each MESL is appointed by their medical school dean, serving as the senior-most person responsible for medical education at every Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accredited (full, preliminary, and provisional) medical school in the United States and Canada.
Resources
Peer Groups
MESL members are encouraged to join a peer group. These groups meet once a month to talk informally about anything the group is interested in discussing at that time. These groups are refreshed each year. Contact mesl@aamc.org to join a peer group.
Virtual Community
Access the members-only MESL Virtual Community to engage with your colleagues. The AAMC Communities Network is a private, members-only space that connects you to other MESLs and the world of academic medicine.
Directory
Sign in to My Engagement to make changes to your contact information, update your affiliations, and discover colleagues in your MESL group directory.
Publications, Resources, and Tools
Reproductive Health in a Post-Dobbs World Matters to All of Us
This webinar series is a collaborative partnership between the Group on Women in Medicine and Science (GWIMS) and the AAMC’s Medical Education Senior Leaders. All AAMC medical schools and teaching hospitals must now develop the knowledge, skills, and tools to navigate the multifaceted complexities the Dobbs decision has generated. The purpose of this webinar series is to support medical institutions, faculty, and trainees as they seek to preserve evidence-based practice and meaningful doctor-patient relationships that ensure our patients will have the ability and agency to make reproductive health decisions.
Key Information and Resources for Academic Medicine Clinicians and Educators in Responding to Reproductive Health Care and Access Restrictions and Related Educational Challenges
The information, resources, and links aggregated below are intended to support educational activities related to reproductive health care education and patient care. Many of these resources address education directly, while others are offered as supplemental resources to provide context and data in considering accreditation requirements, legislative developments, and regulatory changes. In addition to the AAMC, contributions come from the published literature, accreditation bodies, specialty societies, non-profit advocacy entities, government data sources, and AAMC constituents.
Committees and Leadership
All MESL members are encouraged to join the group's standing committees, task forces, and rapid action teams. Learn more about these committees and their leadership.
Meet the Staff
Alison J. Whelan, MD
Chief Academic Officer
AAMC
Katherine S. McOwen, PhD, MSEd
Senior Director, Educational and Student Affairs
AAMC
Alexandra Adsit
Director, Student and Educational Affairs
AAMC
To reach a member of the MESL team, please contact mesl@aamc.org.