Submitted by Marianna Shershneva on

Desai SV, Burk-Rafel J, Lomis KD, et al. Precision education: The future of lifelong learning in medicine. Acad Med. 2024;99(4S Suppl 1):S14-S20.

Abstract

The goal of medical education is to produce a physician workforce capable of delivering high-quality equitable care to diverse patient populations and communities. To achieve this aim amidst explosive growth in medical knowledge and increasingly complex medical care, a system of personalized and continuous learning, assessment, and feedback for trainees and practicing physicians is urgently needed. In this perspective, the authors build on prior work to advance a conceptual framework for such a system: precision education (PE).PE is a system that uses data and technology to transform lifelong learning by improving personalization, efficiency, and agency at the individual, program, and organization levels. PE "cycles" start with data inputs proactively gathered from new and existing sources, including assessments, educational activities, electronic medical records, patient care outcomes, and clinical practice patterns. Through technology-enabled analytics , insights are generated to drive precision interventions . At the individual level, such interventions include personalized just-in-time educational programming. Coaching is essential to provide feedback and increase learner participation and personalization. Outcomes are measured using assessment and evaluation of interventions at the individual, program, and organizational levels, with ongoing adjustment for repeated cycles of improvement. PE is rooted in patient, health system, and population data; promotes value-based care and health equity; and generates an adaptive learning culture.The authors suggest fundamental principles for PE, including promoting equity in structures and processes, learner agency, and integration with workflow (harmonization). Finally, the authors explore the immediate need to develop consensus-driven standards: rules of engagement between people, products, and entities that interact in these systems to ensure interoperability, data sharing, replicability, and scale of PE innovations.

Questions

  1. How can you define “precision education”?
  2. How does the conceptual framework for a system of precision education apply to your role in health professions education?
  3. What did you learn about the principles and standards for precision education suggested by the authors?

Comments

Mario Fletcher replied on

1. How can you define “precision education”?
Precision education (PE) is a data-driven, technology-enabled approach to lifelong learning that personalizes education based on individual performance, clinical outcomes, and contextual factors. Similar to precision medicine, it leverages multiple data sources—such as assessments, clinical practice patterns, and patient outcomes—to tailor educational interventions. PE slope emphasizes continuous cycles of feedback, coaching, and improvement at the learner, program, and organizational levels.

Mario Fletcher replied on

Mario Fletcher replied on

2. How does the conceptual framework apply to your role?
In my role within health professions education, this framework highlights the importance of integrating assessment data with clinical performance metrics to inform individualized learning plans. Rather than relying solely on standardized curricula or episodic evaluations, PE encourages ongoing feedback loops supported by analytics.

Mario Fletcher replied on