The American Medical Association (AMA) invited medical schools last week to submit proposals for “bold, innovative projects” to transform medical education. Medical schools would receive part of a $10 million pot of money over the next five years to fund projects that support a significant redesign of undergraduate medical education.

“Rapid changes in health care require a transformation in the way we train future physicians,” said AMA President Jeremy A. Lazarus, M.D., yesterday via a live streaming conference with medical schools and medical students. “The AMA is deeply committed to redesigning undergraduate medical education to prepare the medical students of today for the health care of tomorrow.”

He said funding would be awarded to medical schools for developing new methods for teaching, training medical students for patient safety, performance improvement and patient-centered team based care, improving students understanding of the health care system and finance; and enhancing the development of professionalism.

“In keeping with the AMA’s historic leadership in all levels of physician education, we are excited to continue our work to improve medical education for patients and physicians,” said Dr. Lazarus. “We hope to find and support proposals to develop innovative new education models that can be duplicated in medical schools across the country.”

The deadline for a letter of intent is February 15, 2013, and projects are expected to begin on September 1, 2013.

From the initial pool of proposals, the AMA will invite a select group of medical schools to submit a full proposal by May 15 and will conduct a thorough review of all materials before announcing the selected schools at its annual meeting in June 2013.

For more information about the initiative and to view a short video, visit www.changemeded.org.