A Comparison of Mentorship Attitudes and Attributes Between Civilian and Army Healthcare Leaders.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to compare the differences in mentorship expectations and attitudes between Army and civilian healthcare leaders, and to review cultural differences between the Army and civilian sectors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study used survey data from Army Medical Service Corps officers and members of a regional chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) to compare attributes of, and attitudes toward, mentorship. A principal component analysis was used to develop three broad mentorship factors, and a comparison of individual attributes was conducted between populations. Institutional approval (IRB) was granted by the University of New Hampshire (IRB #: 6676). RESULTS: The principal component analysis showed similar underlying factors for both populations. An attribute level comparison demonstrated important differences in attitudes toward mentors and mentoring between the Army and civilian participants. CONCLUSION: The differences between the Army and civilian samples appear to arise from differences in their respective cultures. The utilization by the Army of formal training programs such as the Army's Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC), fill a need provided by mentors in civilian organizations. The common experience of professional training like BOLC is part of what creates and sustains the "thick" culture of the Army. Former Army members making the transition to a civilian career should bear in mind that they are leaving behind a thick culture, and that individual relationships may have greater impact on their future careers than they had experienced in the Army.

Data Analytics Under Deployed Conditions: A Case Study.

Like their colleagues in fixed facilities, healthcare planners operating in a combat environment face the problem of transforming data into actionable information. Not all data is useful for decision-making and not all data comes neatly packaged. In this case study, the authors present an effort to collect and analyze data about forward surgical team utilization. The article shares the variety of data collected and the process of analysis, and concludes with a recommended process for data analysis in the field.

What is the value of graduate education? An economic analysis of Army Medical Department Graduate Programs.

Current and forward-looking resource constraints within the federal health system and general health market are generating questions of fiscal or economic viability of a number of programs including graduate education. This article establishes a framework for assessing economic value among graduate health-related programs within the Army Medical Department. The findings of this analysis indicated that the programs evaluated in the study generate positive economic value based on a market-based valuation of extrinsic benefits compared to extrinsic costs for conducting graduate education within each of the programs. Suggestions for future research and policy application are also discussed.

An active learning approach to Bloom's Taxonomy.

As educators strive toward improving student learning outcomes, many find it difficult to instill their students with a deep understanding of the material the instructors share. One challenge lies in how to provide the material with a meaningful and engaging method that maximizes student understanding and synthesis. By following a simple strategy involving Active Learning across the 3 primary domains of Bloom's Taxonomy (cognitive, affective, and psychomotor), instructors can dramatically improve the quality of the lesson and help students retain and understand the information. By applying our strategy, instructors can engage their students at a deeper level and may even find themselves enjoying the process more.