Faculty Development

CHET offers a range of resources to support rural clinicians as educators, preceptors, and advocates for healthcare learners across the state. See below for information on the Rural Education Leaders Academy, the iHELP Maine Learning Platform, and more.

Rural Education Leaders Academy - Applications Now OPEN

RELA is a longitudinal education and leadership program for rural clinicians who wish to enhance their healthcare education teaching and leadership skills to become local rural education leaders

Applications:
Eligibility:
Objective and Goals:
Structure and Learning Community:

In order to apply, please contact the CHET Education and Research Program Manager, Ann Tanner ([email protected], “RELA 2026” in the subject line) to request an application.

Applications are due by October 1st, 2026
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, starting June 1st.

Open to healthcare clinicians who are engaged with learners and live or work in a rural area of Maine

Provide rural clinicians with the knowledge, skills and competence to be local leaders and advocates for healthcare education in their communities.

Participants will graduate the program with:

Healthcare education literacy
Improved competence in providing learner feedback
Be part of a rural learning community of educators and connect with other healthcare education leaders in the state
Tools to advance academic careers
Skills to complete an education scholarly project or healthcare quality-improvement intervention (optional)

The 2026 RELA format has been updated, based on learners’ feedback and outcomes assessment.

The RELA cohort will include 8-15 faculty learners from various healthcare disciplines

The format will include 3 sessions:

1. A one-day in-person conference in November 2026 to focus on general medical education principles, teaching best practices and a simulation-based “Improving Faculty competence in Feedback” session. Participant “homework” will be to practice giving feedback in their home institution, videotape it (with permissions), and bring to session 2 for peer feedback
2. A virtual meeting in February 2027: the group will give feedback to each other on videotaped feedback/teaching sessions and will each present a short presentation about a teaching tip to their peers
3. The final, in-person session will be given in March 2027, the day before the CHET Annual Conference.

Mentorship for educational scholarly projects and/or quality improvement interventions will be available to interested RELA scholars

RELA will provide $4,000 to practices for salary support to release faculty from clinical duties to attend educational sessions. Reimbursement will be available for lodging and mileage for in-person meetings farther than a one hour’s drive.

Applications:

In order to apply, please contact the CHET Education and Research Program Manager, Ann Tanner ([email protected], “RELA 2026” in the subject line) to request an application.

Applications are due by October 1st, 2026
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, starting June 1st.

Eligibility:

Open to healthcare clinicians who are engaged with learners and live or work in a rural area of Maine

Objective and Goals:

Provide rural clinicians with the knowledge, skills and competence to be local leaders and advocates for healthcare education in their communities.

Participants will graduate the program with:

Healthcare education literacy
Improved competence in providing learner feedback
Be part of a rural learning community of educators and connect with other healthcare education leaders in the state
Tools to advance academic careers
Skills to complete an education scholarly project or healthcare quality-improvement intervention (optional)

Structure and Learning Community:

The 2026 RELA format has been updated, based on learners’ feedback and outcomes assessment.

The RELA cohort will include 8-15 faculty learners from various healthcare disciplines

The format will include 3 sessions:

1. A one-day in-person conference in November 2026 to focus on general medical education principles, teaching best practices and a simulation-based “Improving Faculty competence in Feedback” session. Participant “homework” will be to practice giving feedback in their home institution, videotape it (with permissions), and bring to session 2 for peer feedback
2. A virtual meeting in February 2027: the group will give feedback to each other on videotaped feedback/teaching sessions and will each present a short presentation about a teaching tip to their peers
3. The final, in-person session will be given in March 2027, the day before the CHET Annual Conference.

Mentorship for educational scholarly projects and/or quality improvement interventions will be available to interested RELA scholars

RELA will provide $4,000 to practices for salary support to release faculty from clinical duties to attend educational sessions. Reimbursement will be available for lodging and mileage for in-person meetings farther than a one hour’s drive.

iHELP Maine Learning Platform

How can we support you?

CHET offers many different ways to support your clinical site or share your educational message. We offer special trainings that can be custom fit for your clinical needs. We can also help leaders share their message about education and training opportunities. Please contact us to let us know how we can partner with you to advance the expansion, quality, and sustainability of healthcare training and education for healthcare trainees in rural and underserved communities of Maine.