Medical Education Scholarship Showcase Brings Research and Collaboration Together
April 23, 2026
Since its launch in 2024, the College of Human Medicine has hosted the Medical Education Scholarship Showcase, an annual event featuring poster presentations of medical education research and scholarship across the college. It coincides with the long-standing Maatsch Scholar Presentation, an endowed lecture series featuring a Jack L. Maatsch visiting scholar.
The showcase was created by Stacey Pylman, PhD, associate professor in the Office of Medical Education Research and Development (OMERAD) and Director of Continuing Medical Education and Educator Development, who saw an opportunity to better connect medical education scholarship across the college. 
While leading faculty development programs such as the Medical Educator Excellence in Teaching (MEET) Certificate Program and the Academy of Clinicians as Teachers (ACT) Certificate Program, Pylman incorporated action research poster projects as a culminating experience. This sparked a broader idea: much of the medical education scholarship produced by faculty and learners is presented at national and international conferences but rarely shared within the college.
“I thought, wouldn’t it be great to have an event where colleagues could share their work with each other, learn what others are doing, and potentially build new collaborations,” Pylman said. “I brought the idea to an OMERAD office meeting and received full support.” With backing from OMERAD, funding was secured through the Jack L. Maatsch Endowment.
What makes the showcase unique is its dual purpose. In addition to traditional poster presentations, the event also features SPARK posters, a college innovation designed to foster early collaboration.
SPARK posters are designed to highlight early-stage ideas in medical education and innovation, often still in the brainstorming or initial design phase. They outline the proposed idea, its importance, future directions, and a call for collaborators across the college. 
Last year’s showcase, held in East Lansing, featured 40 posters presented by 52 presenters, including both faculty and students. The event also introduced poster reviews and awards in three categories: Research, SPARK, and Innovation.
Beyond presenting work, the event offers meaningful professional value. Students gain hands-on experience developing and presenting scholarly posters, while faculty and learners benefit from exposure to the breadth of medical education work across the college. The showcase fosters connection, bringing people together to spark ideas and build new collaborations.
Even for those not presenting, the event offers an opportunity to engage with colleagues in a setting designed for learning and community. As Pylman notes, “It’s a night filled with laughter, learning, and connection, and it’s worth attending.”
The next Medical Education Scholarship Showcase will be held at the Secchia Center in Grand Rapids on May 14, 2026.