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.

2008 Accomplishments

Dr. Carol Elam, Professor of Behavioral Science, serves as Associate Dean for Admissions and Institutional Advancement and Director of Medical Education Research. In the 2007-2008 year, 2257 students applied for admission, one of the largest applicant pools in the history of the institution.  Significant accomplishments in the area of admissions over 2008 included: development and implementation of a new criminal background check process for accepted students; development and implementation of a new admissions procedure for the Rural Kentucky Leadership Program that incorporates newly designed instruments to assess an applicant’s interest and likelihood of success in rural training and practice; and implementation of a new electronic review system where medical school application materials that can be accessed by Admissions Committee members and medical school interviewers. Dr. Elam also headed efforts to enhance Pipeline activities to attract underrepresented minority applicants to medical center colleges and to create an inclusive environment for all students in the institution.  Working with over 50 administrators and staff across the University, significant Pipeline initiatives in 2008 included administration of a “value of diversity” survey to 1st and 3rd year students across the medical center colleges, and sponsoring the first ever medical center wide open house for prospective health careers students.   Elam was invited to two medical schools in 2008 to discuss best practices in the conduct of the medical school admissions process.  Related to institutional advancement, Elam gave talks to medical center development officers and to members of the Dean’s Advisory Council on ways to build institutional loyalty.  In addition, she worked with medical students to develop a Leadership Legacy program. During 2008, Elam gave 6 platforms talks at regional and national meetings and presented 7 posters.  She published 2 articles in peer reviewed journals. She currently serves as a member of two editorial boards.  She is the elected Vice Chair and Treasurer of the Southern Group on Educational Affairs of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).  At the 2008 AAMC meeting, she received the Group on Student Affairs Exemplary Service Award for lifetime achievement in this group where she has served as Chair of the Committee on Admissions, Regional Chair, and National Chair.

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.