It is my honor to welcome you to the Learner Access, Support, Opportunity, and Retention Group Student Opportunity, Access, and Retention Community of Practice (CoP). I am excited to continue this work with you, the broader Group’s community, and others who have primary responsibility to support the academic and personal success of medical students.
Under the Learner Access, Support, Opportunity, and Retention Group structure, SOAR CoP, meets regularly to address issues and offers guidance on medical student concerns related to student recruitment, admissions, enrollment, retention, and graduation.
The acronym SOAR is intentional—it symbolizes growth, momentum, and the journey our students take as they enter and move through medical education. This community of practice endeavors to continually view all aspects of undergraduate medical education through a lens of fairness that will allow our students to thrive.
Through community calls and webinars, SOAR serves to disseminate information and to gather feedback. We work in collaboration with other communities of practice on pertinent issues that cross administrative areas, often participating in working groups to accomplish common goals. In addition, to ensure advocacy and promote opportunities in the medical education space, SOAR CoP also engages with other AAMC affinity groups on joint programming and events.
We recognize that the SOAR CoP functions in an efficient and effective manner due to the wonderful foundation laid by prior chairs and the efforts of a wonderful AAMC team. Their continued steadfast commitment to this work is, in great part, what allows our success.
Finally, we welcome your interest in the work of the SOAR Community of Practice. We know that there is value in creating a medical education environment that benefits all students. Please contact us with any ideas, proposals, or comments that might be of interest to the SOAR CoP leadership and membership.
Thank you,
Donna H. Jackson, EdD
SOAR Committee Chair