The Executive Committee of the Academy of Medical Educators has approved the following policy governing support for members' travel and accommodations for professional development activities. The policy reflects the mission of the Academy: to foster excellence in teaching; to support and reward teachers; to advance scholarship in medical education; and to promote curricular innovation.

Guided by these goals, the Academy will consider requests of travel support for three types of activities:

• Invited presentations about UCSF's Academy
• Presentation of a member's scholarly work in education
• Participation in a professional development activity that better enables a member to undertake work related to specific and current Academy goals.

In most cases, the Academy will provide 50% of the member's expenses for travel, lodging, meals and registration fees, not to exceed $1,000, with the member's home department providing the other 50%. In some special circumstances, the member may provide 50%.

The following guidelines have been developed to maximize the benefit for the greatest number of Academy members throughout the year:

• Half of the Academy's annual member travel support allocation will be reserved for activities occurring between July and December, and the other half for activities occurring between January and June.
• Members may use this benefit once every 24 months.
• Additional requests by a member who has already received support within the previous 24-month period may be honored as resources permit.

Members should email requests for funding to Academy manager Cynthia Ashe (ashec@medsch.ucsf.edu) at least four weeks before the meeting or event and include the following information:

• Meeting or activity name, dates and location
• Nature of participation (ie learner, poster or podium presentation, workshop facilitator)
• Linkage to Academy mission
• Itemized estimate of costs
• Fund source for remaining costs

The Membership working group chair, the associate director, and the Academy manager will review requests and respond by email. Retroactive requests will not be honored.

Harvard Macy Institute Programs
The Harvard Macy Institute programs--both Educators in the Health Professions and Leading Innovations in Health Care and Education--are eligible supported activities. Because of the expense of these programs, we expect to support three or fewer Academy members per year at 50% (shared by AME and OME) with the member's home department supporting 50%. Strong preference will be given to members who have not previously attended a Harvard Macy program. For further details please visit our Harvard Macy page.

Executive Committee
Academy of Medical Educators
May 2009; effective July 1, 2009