ISTEP history

In the fall of 2005, the American Medical Association announced a competitive request for applications (RFA) for one year planning grants. Grant funds would be used to convene meetings to evaluate the feasibility for establishing a multi-site research and learning collaborative in medical education.

Applicants were also encouraged to submit jointly (i.e., all the medical schools in given city would be part of one application).

• 53 applications were received in response to the RFA, and 16 teams were awarded with planning grants.
• Of the 16 teams awarded planning grants, 5 were joint applications which resulted in a total of 27 medical schools represented by the awardees.
• Two national and three regional planning meetings were held in 2006.
• Based on progress made during the planning year, all 16 teams agreed to move ahead to officially establish the research and learning collaborative, known as ISTEP, in February 2007.
• An ISTEP steering group with representation from each team was formed, as well as a 5-member executive committee.
• The executive committee is currently chaired by Paul Lanken, MD from the University of Pennsylvania and Patricia Carney, PhD from the Oregon Health & Sciences University.