Welcome to the Student Advising, Support, and Records Management (SASR) Community of Practice. We are honored to serve as Co-Chairs of the committee charged with leading and serving this important community within the Learner Access, Support, Opportunities, and Retention Group and to work alongside colleagues who are deeply committed to supporting medical students throughout their educational journey.
The work represented within SASR community spans the full continuum of student development and success, from matriculation through graduation and transition to residency. Our community brings together professionals whose expertise includes academic advising, student support services, career and specialty advising, records management, compliance oversight, student progression, wellness, crisis management, and many other critical functions that help learners thrive. While our individual roles may vary across institutions, we are united by a shared commitment to ensuring that every student receives the guidance, support, and resources needed to achieve their personal and professional goals.
Medical education continues to evolve in meaningful and complex ways. As institutions navigate changing learner needs, regulatory requirements, technological advances, and workforce demands, the work of SASR professionals has never been more important. Through this Community of Practice, we have a unique opportunity to learn from one another, share promising practices, address common challenges, and collectively advance the systems and structures that support learner success.
Our vision for SASR is to cultivate a collaborative and inclusive community of practice where members can exchange ideas, build professional networks, and contribute to national conversations that shape student advising, support services, and records administration. We believe that innovation is strengthened through partnership and that our collective expertise can help identify solutions that improve both learner experiences and educational outcomes.
The SASR community of practice will focus on key areas that are foundational to student success, including academic advising and counseling, career and residency advising, professional identity formation, student support leadership, crisis response, transition-to-residency initiatives, away rotations coordination, student records and progression management, graduation processes, and compliance oversight. By bringing together diverse perspectives and experiences, we can better understand emerging needs and develop strategies that support students across the continuum of medical education.
Most importantly, SASR is a community built around both the learners we serve and the professionals who dedicate themselves to this work. We hope this Community of Practice becomes a place where members feel connected, supported, and empowered to share their expertise and experiences. Together, we can strengthen our profession, support one another, and continue advancing opportunities for learner success.
We look forward to partnering with you in the years ahead and are excited about what we can accomplish together.
Thank you,
Lauren Cobbs, MD, MEd, FACP, ACC, and Chastity Hawkins, MEd, MBA
SASR Committee Co-Chairs