Behavioral Science

Carol Elam, Ed.D.

(1990, University of Kentucky)

Associate Dean for Admissions and Institutional Advancement
Director of Medical Education Research
Office of Medical Education
University of Kentucky College of Medicine
800 Rose Street, Room MN118 (UKCOM)
Lexington, KY 40536-0298
Phone: (859) 323-6161
FAX: (859) 257-3633

e-mail: clelam1@email.uky.edu

Research Description

Dr. Elam’s research interests focus on topics related to medical school admissions process including the efficacy of various selection criteria, medical school admission interviewing, and the relationship of various predictive factors to success in medical school. Recent work has been in the areas of diversity and pipeline initiatives, approaches to service learning, and characteristics of millennial students. Dr. Elam is also collaborating with other faculty in the Department of Behavioral Science in the conduct of studies on topics related to emotional intelligence as well as the development of social networks within a medical school class. Dr. Elam serves as the Associate Dean for Admissions and Institutional Advancement and the Director of Medical Education Research for the College of Medicine.

2011 Accomplishments

Dr. Carol Elam, Professor of Behavioral Science, serves as Associate Dean for Admissions and Institutional Advancement and Director of Medical Education Research. She is responsible for the coordination of the recruitment activities for prospective students, and the implementation of the admissions process at the College of Medicine. During 2011, Elam gave 9 platform talks at regional, national, and international meetings and presented 3 posters. Most notably, she organized and chaired a symposium at the Association for Medical Education in Europe which was selected for webcast.  She published 4 articles and 1 letter to the editor in peer reviewed journals (with 1 as first author, and two as mentor to medical students/residents). She completed a six-year term of service as a member of the editorial board for the Annals of Behavioral Science and Medical Education.  Elam served as an invited external reviewer to the University of Minnesota School of Medicine for a pre-accreditation review. In 2011, Elam completed a two-year term as Chair of the Southern Group on Educational Affairs (SGEA) of the AAMC.  At the 2011 annual meeting of the Association of American Medical Colleges, she was recognized for her contributions to the AAMC’s Group on Educational Affairs Steering Committee (GEA).   Dr. Elam was tapped by the GEA to represent that organization at the AAMC’s Leadership Forum on Diversity.  Dr. Elam is the Program Chair for the 2012 SGEA Conference which will be hosted by the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in Lexington in April, 2012. Elam received the William R. Willard Dean’s Recognition Award from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in recognition of her significant and longstanding dedication and devotion to medical education. 

Representative Publications

Elam, C.L., Stratton, T.D., & Gibson, D.D. (2007). Welcoming a New Generation To College:  The Millennial Students., Journal of College Admission. 195 (Spring, 2007):  20-25.

Borges, N.R., Manuel, R.S., Elam, C.L., & Jones, B.J. (2006). Medical School Millennial Students: A Comparison with Generation Xers.  Academic Medicine. 81(6):571-576.

Elam, C. & Stratton, T.D. Should Medical School Applicants Be Tested For Emotional Intelligence?, Virtual Mentor, online ethics journal of the American Medical Association, 8(7):473-476. Available at http://www.amaassn.org/ama/pub/category/16382.html. Accessed July 26, 2006.

Elam, C., McKaig, R.N, Jacobs, B., Whitlow, M., & Gros Louis, K.R.R. (2006). Examining a Safe Ride Program: The Midnight Special Late Night Bus Service, NASPA Journal.43(2):358-376.

Elam, C., Sabalis, R.F., Levitan, T., Fields, V., & Schriner, J. (2006).  A Challenge for Medicine and for Society:  Responding to Changes in Physician Supply and Demand, The Advisor. 26(3):15-19.

Elam, C.L., Stratton, T.D., Wilson, J.F., Rudy, D.W., & Jennings, C.D. (2006).The Kentucky Medical Curriculum: Continuing Innovations in Educating Physicians. Journal of the Kentucky Medical Association.  104:145-150.

Elam, C., Oeltmann, T., & Workman, J. (2005). Crafting the Letter of Evaluation:   Composing a that Captures the Applicant as an Individual. The Advisor, 25(1):20-25.

Elam, C.L. & Brown, O.G. (2005). The Inclusive University: Helping Minority Students Choose a College and Identify Institutions that Value Diversity, Journal of College Admissions. 187:14-17.

Elam, C.L., Hafferty, F., Messmer, J, Blue, A. Flipse, A.R., Lazarus, C., Chauvin, S. (2004). Reflections of Medical Student Service Leaders: Implications for Medical School Admissions and Curriculum. Journal of Experiential Education, 26(3), 152-166.

Elam, C.L. (2004). Medical Education Research at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. Academic Medicine,79(10), 1-5.

Elam, C.L., Sauer, M.J., Stratton, T.D., Skelton, J., Crocker, D., & Musick, D.W. (2003). Service Learning in the Medical Curriculum: Developing and Evaluating an Elective Experience, Teaching and Learning in Medicine, 15(3), 194-203.

Elam, C.L., Hamilton, K.E., Oyewole, S.H., & Johnson, L.M. (2003). Minorities In Medicine:  Nurturing Interest and Enhancing Opportunities to Pursue a Medical Degree, The Advisor, 23(3), 19—24.

Stratton, T.D, Elam, C.L., & McGrath, M.G. (2003). A Liberal Arts Education As Preparation for Medical School:  How is it Valued? How Do Graduates Perform? Academic Medicine, 78, 59S-61S.

Gilbert, L., & Elam, C. (2003). Fundamentals in Financial Aid: Factors For Consideration by Health Professions Advisors and their Premedical Students, The Advisor, 23(5),11-15.