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The Science Teaching Experience Program--Working in Science Education (STEP-WISE) provides teaching experience for postdoctoral scholars holding full-time research appointments. Through a combination of mentorship, deliberate practice, and feedback, the postdocs learn and apply inclusive, evidence-based pedagogies. STEP-WISE is integrated into postdocs' demanding schedules and is sustainable for institutions to run. Here, we assess the effectiveness of STEP-WISE. We used the Classroom Observation Protocol for Undergraduate STEM instruction to quantify instructor and student behaviors in 20 STEP-WISE class sessions from seven courses designed and taught by postdocs in the program. We found that all of the postdocs used student-centered teaching strategies. Also, using a design-based research framework, we studied the program to identify the salient components of its design. Four interconnected key elements contribute to the program's success: (1) two training sessions, (2) a precourse meeting with the mentor, (3) implementation of active-learning strategies with support, and (4) debriefing with the mentor after each class session. STEP-WISE is a replicable model to support postdocs seeking training and experience in evidence-based teaching practices geared to improving undergraduate education and transforming pedagogical practice. We conclude that high-impact teaching can be learned early in a career with streamlined training and intensive mentoring.

For the past 22 years the interns in pediatrics at the University of Washington and Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center have been relieved of all clinical duties in order to participate in a five-day retreat. The retreat provides an opportunity for the interns to learn more about their classmates, build stronger bonds, and provide mutual support. This retreat has been supported by the hospital, the department of pediatrics, faculty, fellows, and community physicians. The authors describe the history of the Intern Retreat, present its goals, daily activities, and faculty, and discuss how the retreat is funded and supported by the hospital and the medical community.

Study Objective: To determine the causes and characteristics of pediatric recreational wilderness deaths., Methods: All deaths of children between 12 months and 20 years of age involving a wilderness recreational activity in 5 western Washington counties between 1987 and 1996 were identified by medical examiners' logs. Univariate analysis was used to examine variables such as age, gender, activity, mechanism of injury, adult presence, blood alcohol level, safety equipment, and mode of evacuation., Results: Of 40 cases meeting inclusion criteria, 90% involved male subjects and 83% of victims were 13 to 19 years old. Hiking (33%), swimming (20%), and river rafting (10%) were the most common activities. Death was most often by drowning (55%) or closed head injury (26%). No victim was alone. All children younger than 10 years of age were accompanied by an adult, in contrast to only 26% of individuals 10 years or older. Only 4 victims had drugs or alcohol in their system. No victim wore a personal flotation device or helmet, and only 5% had foul weather gear. Although nearly one third of victims were transported by airlift, more than half of the victims were dead at the scene., Conclusion: Males and teenagers were the 2 major risk groups for recreational wilderness deaths. Traditional activities such as hiking and swimming were the most common causes of death. Children younger than 10 years died despite the presence of an adult, whereas teenagers were usually with groups of peers. The majority of victims were not prepared for adverse events with basic safety equipment.

From February 1989 to December 1993, 139 patients with a variety of brain lesions were treated with stereotactic external beam irradiation using a 6MV linear accelerator. The largest group consisted of patients with recurrent brain metastases (n = 46). Twenty seven patients had malignant gliomas, most of which were recurrent. Several benign conditions were treated, including arteriovenous malformations (n = 27), acoustic neuromas (n = 9), meningiomas (n = 7), and pituitary adenomas (n = 2). Durable responses were seen in the majority of patients with transient, mild, side effects. This experience suggests that stereotactic external beam irradiation is a safe, reliable, and effective method for non-invasive treatment of selected patients with small, localized brain lesions.