For this week’s blog post we are excited to feature a testimonial from a recent Harvard Macy scholar, sharing his experiences in two of our programs – Leading Innovation in Health Care & Education and Transforming Your Teaching Using Technology.
Joshua Owolabi MSc, MMedEd, MBA, PhD, PhD, FAcadMEd is an associate professor at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and a fellow of the Academy of Medical Education, United Kingdom. An avid lifelong learner, Owolabi holds PhDs in Anatomy, Public Health/Neuroepidemiology, an MBA and a master's degree in medical education. He is a dedicated science policy advocate and teaches Anatomy, Neuroscience, and related basic medical sciences to medical and allied health students. His scholarly work focuses on the adaptation, standardization, integration, and compliance (ASIC) Framework for educational technology integration in medical and higher education.
Owolabi was encouraged by a mentor to apply to the Harvard Macy Institute (HMI) after witnessing his passion for medical education. Since then, he has become a scholar in two HMI programs: Leading Innovation in Health Care & Education and Transforming Your Teaching Using Technology. He describes the blend of resources and approaches and the synergy between these two course experiences as optimally impactful. As a scholar, he was guided by faculty and fellow scholars to pursue ideas relevant to his professional and institutional goals while receiving mentorship and education on frameworks and best practices.
During his HMI experience, Owolabi says that he developed meaningful professional relationships and important networks and met many collegial and inspiring individuals, some of whom have become valued colleagues, collaborators and friends. Within HMI’s intellectually rich community of educators and professionals, Owolabi found additional motivation to apply his knowledge and skills to his practices as an educator, especially in instructional design and innovative classroom teaching methods.
Owolabi explained that he benefited from shared and collective reasoning with colleagues within these two programs to solve complex problems he was facing. His experiences also enhanced collaborative opportunities for educational projects. “I have learned to appreciate the value of being a member of such a quality community. By observing the program organizing strategies at HMI, I found a suitable model of excellence for medical education programs.”
As a medical educator, Owolabi has served in leadership capacities at institutional levels and in professional societies. He has learned that leading change requires much more than subject knowledge or even general theoretical knowledge of management. HMI inspired Owolabi through the leadership qualities exhibited by the faculty. “They were intellectually excellent, engaging and respectful and the focus was primarily on impact and relationships,” he says. “This aspect of the courses is crucial for anyone who needs to know how to manage academic and professional relationships, encounters, or engagements.”
After completing his HMI coursework, Owolabi is now hard at work writing a text on best practices, principles and methods to advance medical and higher education by leveraging technology and innovations. Owolabi credits HMI with making him a better educator, and much more of an inspired academic leader. “I now align my vision for change and impact with strategic actions that are guided by sound principles and evidence.”
Owolabi highly recommends HMI’s programs to scholars. “While anyone who has taken an HMI program will readily agree that the quality of the program is exceptional, it is the inspirational environment that makes me want to come back.” he says. “Anyone attending Harvard Macy will be surrounded by an outstanding collection of educators and industry leaders, but they will also be inspired and welcomed into a great community.”
Joshua Owolabi, Msc, MMedEd, MBA, PhD, FAcadMed (Leaders ‘23; T3 ‘24) is an associate professor at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Joshua’s areas of professional interest include anatomy, neuroscience, and science policy advocacy. Joshua can be contacted via email.
HMI Staff
