ASPIRE-to-excellence: A framework for developing innovative and inspirational approaches to health professions education
This article describes a framework to assist individuals and teams who prepare for (or are engaged in) health professions education innovations. The four essential elements are Needs Assessment, Planning, Implementation and Programme Evaluation. Each element is described in detail with a series of questions to contemplate, and to ensure that all key steps are sufficiently covered. While it is helpful to use this process at the beginning of a project, it will be necessary to develop a continuing cycle of reflection. Needs change and a rapid quality improvement cycle will help maintain relevance and thus effectiveness. It will promote dissemination to inspire educators at the same or other institutions. The four-element framework was developed by the ASPIRE-to-Excellence Award Panel and Academy Section for Innovative and Inspirational Approaches to Health Professions Education (I&I). Examples from 11 awardees from four continents are provided. They illustrate innovative and inspirational work that can stimulate more progress in the field.
Authors
- Tomáš Petras (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7187-8368)
- Vishna Devi Nadarajah (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7126-7189)
- David R. Brown (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5361-6664)
- Michelle McLean (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9912-2483)
- Sadaf Khan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2150-7535)
- Annette Burgess (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9617-3819)
- Stella Goeschl (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6561-7525)
- Elizabeth Kachur (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0967-746X)
- Harm Peters (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1441-7512)
- Heeyoung Han (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7286-2473)
- Alexandra-Aurora Dumitra (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2363-7315)
Institutions
- Bond University (AU)
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- Center for Global Development (US)
- Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (US)
- Florida International University (US)
- University of Pavol Jozef Šafárik (SK)
- University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova (RO)
- Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (MY)
- County Hospital (GB)
- Medical University of Vienna (AT)
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Medical Teacher
- Published
- 2025-11-22
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159x.2025.2586639
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Innovations in Medical Education
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.88